
Glass TlSM^^ 
Book. 



■ 



Copyright W. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



, Qy-ate_ 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 



A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHINOOK JARGON IN 
PLAIN WORDS, GIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRONUN- 
CIATION, CONSTRUCTION, EXPRESSION AND 
PROPER SPEAKING OF CHINOOK WITH 
ALL THE VARIOUS SHADED 
MEANINGS OF THE 
:: WORDS :: 



By EL COMMANCHO 

(W. S. Phillips) 



Seattle, 1913 



Copyrighted 1913 
bv W. S. Phillips 

All Common Law Rights Reserved by the Author 






. L. DAVIS PRINTING CC 
320 Arcade Way, Seattl 



©CI.A343993 

k 



PREFACE 

THIS BOOK is written with the object of reducing to 
understandable English one of the most flexible of 
primitive languages ever known. In a few years the 
men who have spoken this unwritten jargon and de- 
pended on it as a means of communication with savage 
peoples will have crossed the great divide and with them will 
go the only authority on Chinook. Having talked Chinook for 
nearly thirty years, with both Indians and whites, and being a 
trained writer for all these years, I thought it "up to me" to 
record the Chinook jargon in as nearly an authoritative way as 
it is possible to do it in English. 

This I have done in this little book as well as I am able 
and I have taken care to record the REAL Chinook spoken 
sounds by giving like English sounds in example words instead 
of depending on English sound symbols to fix the Chinook 
sounds. 

If this book is taken as a Chinook standard of spelling there 
should be no further confusion in recording anything in Chinook 
and I hope for the sake of the jargon that this will be done. 

Contrary to common belief, the Chinook jargon is not a 
product of the Hudson Bay Company, but is a spontaneous 
growth that started first among the old fur traders of Nootka 
when the Spanish first made a fur port of Nootka, on the west 
coast of Vancouver Island, many years before the Hudson Bay 
Company existed. The jargon grew slowly until the Hudson 
Bay Company began to use it as a trade medium . This com- 
pany enlarged it and used it but it was the Astor fur people at 
Astoria who finally developed it into the present excellent terse 
medium of transferring intelligence. 

Herein I have recorded the words and meaning of the fully 
developed jargon with the idea of preserving it for all time 
for it is too good an "infant language" to be lost to the world. 

May those who come after us develop it still further until 
it becomes a world language, for it is easily understood and 
spoken by men of many tongues and has a flexible quality that 
is really remarkable. 

"EL COMANCHO." 



Dedicated to 

The Seattle Peess Club 

The Tilacums of Elttaes 

and to all the 

"Hyas Ahncuttie Tilacums' 

of the Pacific Coast who 

have used this queer speech 

in pioneer work for the 

American people. 



EXPLANATORY 



The Chinook jargon is not a language in the ordinary ac- 
cepted sense, but is a verbal symbolism created by a spon- 
taneous combination of words from widely different languages, 
made by necessity and common usage into a trade jargon which 
is at once graphic, expressive, and exceedingly elastic. 

One may learn to talk Chinook from a study of this book 
but he cannot learn to speak it fluently without considerable 
study into other things than the mere jargon itself. 

The most important knowledge to possess in this connec- 
tion is a thorough understanding of the Indian point of view; 
that is to say, how the Indian thinks, the mental process by 
which he arrives at an idea and, in addition to this, a knowl- 
edge of his method of expressing this idea. Without this 
knowledge you can never speak Chinook, or any Indian lan- 
guage, fluently. 

Compared with English . any Indian tongue is what we 
would call "turned around" — that is to say, the construction 
of all Indian languages is similar to German. Chinook when 
properly spoken has this same peculiarity. For instance: An 
Indian would say, "Have you my father seen?" and not "Have 
you seen my father?" 

A great many people who speak Chinook use Chinook 
words with English construction of sentences; this is wrong. 
The construction should be always Indian, and just what this 
means I will show by example sentences further on in this 
book so that you will get a comprehensive idea of how Chinook 
should be put together to express any idea. 

A very common mistake by all writers who have tried to 
put Chinook into English print, either in dictionary form or 
otherwise, has been faulty spelling. The writer has always been 
influenced by the dialectic English idioms peculiar to the part 
of the country where he spent his childhood during the time 
he learned to speak English, thus the New Englander says 
"Caow" for "Cow," the New Yorker says "N'Yawk" for "New 
York," etc. This has caused wide variations in the attempt to 
translate Chinook into English through phonetic sounds with 
consequent differences in spelling. I have endeavored in this 
book to give the TRUE Chinook spoken sounds by disregarding 
printed sound symbols used in English to indicate English let- 
ter sounds and have instead, indicated the letter or word sounds 
of Chinook by using English words having sounds the same as 
the Chinook spoken sounds as example or key words to fix the 



6 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

letter sounds of the English letter used in phonetic Chinook 
spelling, thus fixing the true sound of the Chinook words as 
they are spoken. 

One important point to remember in speaking Chinook is 
that there are in Chinook many gutteral sounds which the 
English language has no letter equivalent for but which are 
common enough in German. These must be indicated by com- 
parative word sounds as used in English. 

Another very important point concerning Chinook is the 
tonal inflection used by the speaker. The influence of inflec- 
tion on the spoken word in Chinook is so great that a rising 
inflection sometimes makes a word mean one thing and a fall- 
ing inflection gives the same word a totally different meaning, 
or even perhaps an exactly opposite meaning, also the way a 
word is spoken has a tremendous influence on meaning. As 
an example: "Ahncuttie" if spoken as it is written here, means 
"time past" and the length of the time is expressed entirely 
by the way the speaker draws the word out. If he holds the 
first syllable a little time the word means a week, or a month, 
or six months ago; if he holds the syllable still longer in speak- 
ing, the time is correspondingly increased; in other words, the 
longer the speaker dwells on the first syllable the longer time 
is expressed in the understanding of the hearer. This I shall 
endeavor to explain in detail further on so that it will be per- 
fectly clear. 

The "a" when it is used in the broad sound in Chinook is 
not the broad "a" of English but a combination of the English 
broad "a" with "hi." as in "ah" with the further peculiarity of 
trailing the aspirate "h" longer than we would in the word 
"ah.". 

Another common mistake made by those who have tried to 
write Chinook is the use of the English sound of "u" in place 
of the sound of "oo." The English understanding of the sound 
of "oo" is more musical than the broad "u" and the "oo" should 
be used almost altogether in Chinook in place of the long "u." 

All of those peculiarities, together with others, I will ex- 
plain in full in their proper place so that the meaning and shades 
of meaning will be perfectly clear. 

There is no set rule, unfortunately, for spelling Chinook 
sounds into English, therefore the phonetic system must be 
depended upon entirely and I shall endeavor to make a fixed 
standard of spelling Chinook in this book by careful analysis 
of Chinook sounds as spoken, so that hereafter writers may, if 
they will, use this book as a basis of fixed spelling of Chinook 
words and thereby avoid a great deal of confusion that now 
exists and which arises from the endeavor of different writers 
to translate Chinook sounds into English words without being 
thoroughly familiar with both languages, and from the further 
handicap of the dialectic differences of English itself which 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 7 

exists in the different sections of the United States from which 
the writers have come. 

If the method given in this book is followed hereafter an 
English standard of written Chinook sounds will be established 
so that there need be no further confusion on this point. I have 
given this matter painstaking analytical study and I believe I 
have succeeded in translating into English the proper sound of 
the Chinook words given with their tqnal inflections and other 
peculiarities as they are actually spoken. Also the matter of 
construction of Chinook is given attention and the methods 
laid down here for constructing sentences and expressing ideas 
are probably as nearly correct as it is possible to translate them 
into English. Careful study of the spelling, inflection and let- 
ter and word sounds as given here will enable anyone to speak 
Chinook and if they get the basic Indian idea that is behind it 
all they should have no difficulty in talking Chinook fluently as 
soon as they can memorize the words. 

Remember always that the Chinook jargon had to do with 
a primitive people who were surrounded by certain natural 
phenomena, who had certain fixed religious principles, mythic 
and legendary lore, and who lived a nomadic, outdoor existence. 
All of these things have had great influence in creating the 
Chinook jargon, because they gave a certain standard of idea 
construction which resolves itself into verbal expression 
through the medium of the Chinook jargon; therefore Chinook 
is a reflection of limited conditions under which a primitive 
people lived. Further, these people were brought into contact 
with the highly superior races of white poeple, each with a fixed 
language of his own and with certain ideals and surroundings 
of his own; neither people could at first understand the other 
and the necessity arose for a common language which was the 
spontaneous growth, now called the "Chinook" jargon. It is 
easy then to see that ideas from many sources were incor- 
porated in this jargon. The primitive conditions gave it a very 
graphic construction, so there are many things which Chinook 
has no word for at all which brings us to the association of 
words and ideas which has so great a bearing on the construc- 
tion of the Chinook sentences. As an instance of what this 
means, let us take the word "Snass;" That is a native word 
expressing a concrete idea for it means "rain" in Chinook 
and it doesn't mean anything else but rain. We all know that 
snow is frozen rain yet there is no Chinook word for "snow" 
but the idea of snow is expressed by combining a corruption 
of the English word- "cold" with the Indian word "snass" and 
thereby we get "cole-snass" which is the Chinook word for 
"snow," the literal translation being "cold-rain" which expresses 
graphically the idea of snow. 

Another peculiarity of Chinook which arises from its graphic 
quality is the use of such words as "mamook," "copo" and other 



8 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

words of like character. The word "mamook" taken alone 
means "to do" but in actual use we might call it the one and 
only verb of the Chinook jargon because it is the only action 
word in the jargon and yet it is not a verb as there are some 
actions that cannot be expressed by the use of the word "ma- 
mook." To make the meaning clear in connection with this 
word, I will say that if you row a boat, build a fire, cut wood, 
shoot a duck, or do anything else you "mamook" so and so, 
yet you do not "mamook come" or "mamook go" except in 
certain instances. 

"Klatawah" taken alone means "go," that is, "I go" or 
"you go" or "he goes" but if I were to tell you to "Mamook 
klatawah" in Chinook, I would mean that you were to "make 
go" which would correspond to the English slang expression 
of "Get a move on you," "Get away from here;" in other words 
it is an authoritative command to "go away" to "get out." 
This will be fully explained in its proper place further on. 

The word "copo" expresses the idea of "together with" 
that is, "I go together-with you," or "he goes together-with 
us," or "put this article together-with that." In all instances 
of this character the word "copo" is used to couple up the idea 
with the action and yet it is not a conjunction as understood 
in English grammar, therefore I shall call "copo" the joining 
or coupling word and "mamook" I shall call the action word 
although it is not really a verb because certain usages in 
Chinook destroy its verb power. 

It is difficult to express in cold type the ideas that govern 
and control these things, yet a careful study will bring the 
understanding of it all. as you begin to understand the Chinook 
and as you get further along and begin to talk Chinook you 
will "sense" the different shades of meaning which are given 
to words by the actual speech and I do not believe that these 
ideas can be thoroughly understood in any other way. 

As applied to modern, every-day affairs Chinook lacks many 
words because many things common enough today were not 
in existence when the Chinook jargon was created, therefore 
there is no word for them, and the idea must be expressed by 
an association of words and sometimes even by an association 
of ideas which are comparative and that work around to the 
idea in the same sense that the Chinaman frequently uses the 
expression "Allee same as." For illustration take the Chinook 
word "tipso" which alone means "hair." There is no direct 
Chinook word for "grass" but the idea of grass is expressed 
by the combination of the words "illahee tipso" or literally, 
"earth hair." In like manner sand is called "powder-ground" 
and a paved street becomes in Chinook "stone oiehut" or 
literally "stone road" and a skyscraper becomes "sahale 
chickamun tepee" meaning literally "tall-iron-house," or "high- 
iron-house," and which by a closer, further analysis of the first 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 9 

word becomes "high-up-above iron-house," thus conveying the 
predominating architectural idea of the building. In the 
same way "chick-chick" is a wheel but if you say "Kuitan 
chick-chick" the combination of words expresses the idea of a 
wagon or any wheeled vehicle drawn-by-horses, and if you say 
"piah" which is a corruption of the English word "fire" and say 
"piah chick-chick" or "piah chickamun chick-chick" you have 
expressed the idea of the locomotive or "iron-wagon that-runs- 
by-fire." 

You see there are many peculiarities of construction in 
Chinook and these peculiarities themselves have many angles 
which make Chinook appear very complicated but it is not so 
complicated as it looks because its graphic qualities make it 
pliable when it comes to the expression of ideas. You have 
merely to remember the Indian point of view to get the ex- 
pression of almost any idea. This you will pick up very quickly 
further on when you get to the examples of constructed set- 
tences. These sentences in Chinook with the explanatory 
translation will very quickly give you the Indian point of view 
that will enable you to understand Chinook and without which 
you never can understand it nor can you talk it fluently without 
this understanding except from the point of view of an English 
speaking person and the jargon will thereby lose its most useful 
quality, viz., its ability to condense an idea or an association 
of ideas into a few brief spoken words. Indeed this peculiarity 
is so marked that Chinook could almost be called a "verbal 
shorthand" and in truth it is a "condensed language" yet it 
lacks many of the fixed rules of construction needed to make 
a language and therefore remains a "jargon." 

German methods of construction of sentences are more 
nearly right than English, yet the English methods are entirely 
understandable and in many instances just as correct as German 
methods. Neither are quite "Indian" and just what "Indian 
methods" are no man can explain by a set of hard and fast 
"rules" — one must simply learn to "sense" constructive methods 
by actual speaking for the jargon has many "short cuts" where- 
by ideas are expressed without saying words at all. 

If there is any one characteristic stronger in Chinook than 
all others, it is that flexible, condensed, "short cut" quality that 
makes so much understood by idea-association or inference, 
by which I mean that many times "that which is unsaid" 
means as much or even more to the understanding of the 
listener as that which he gathers from a mental digest of the 
words actually spoken — a point that can be understood only 
by hearing a conversation in Chinook. 

In translating English words into Chinook certain letter 
sounds in English change always into other letter sounds in 
Chinook, and thus the English F becomes P in Chinook as 
"Pish" for fish, "Piah" for fire, etc. 



10 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

In like manner English D becomes T, G becomes Zgh, 
R becomes L, V becomes B (or sometimes W) and Z becomes 
S in Chinook. English J becomes almost the German "ch" 
and other gutteral sounds become very nearly the English Q 
or Qh or Qw. 

Example: English "Vancouver" becomes in Chinook 
"Bahn-coo-bah" (a as in father). The letter h here denotes 
the halting "breath sound" that in English would make the 
first syllable sound as though it were written "Baa-hn" with the 
a as in father and the n nasal as used by the New Englander. 

This all applies ONLY to English words incorporated 
into and used as Chinook, as "fish" "fire" etc., where there is 
no other real Chinook word to take the place of the changed 
or adopted English word. It is usually in use more when proper 
names are spoken — that is, names of places, towns, people, etc., 
as "George" which in Chinook sounds becomes "Zghorzgh-h" 
while "Jim" would be "Chim" in Chinook. 



COMMON WORDS OF THE CHINOOK 

JARGON WITH THEIR FULL 

AND SHADED MEANINGS 



(English word given in light face capitals and Chinook word 
given in black face capitals. In the examples following the 
Chinook words are in black face and English translations in 
light face. English words in parenthesis are the unspoken 
words needed to give English understanding of the idea con- 
veyed by the spoken words, and show how Chinook condenses 
ideas into a few spoken words leaving much to be infered of 
supplies by the listener.) 

AYE! — A-a-a-h 

A as in fate and dwelled on as a level, sustained, accented 
sound ending with a short, sudden breath sound of h. 
This is always an exclamation used to confirm or agree with 
something a speaker has already said or is used by the listener 
to denote agreement after a statement has been made by some- 
one else. 

Examples: "A-a-a-h" — "Yes, that is so — it is the truth — 
certainly — surely," etc. When the speaker uses it to confirm 
his own statement it is sounded the same and means "I have 
spoken truly." "What I said was the truth." "I say it again, 
it is that way, the truth altogether." 

A-a-a-nah! 

A as in fate; hold the A sound and end with explosive short 

spoken -nah- with a as in father. 

This word is almost the same as "A-a-a-h!" and means 
the same in actual use. 

A-a-a-e! 

A as in fate; e as in eat; a sustained sound of a with e short and 
explosive at end. 
This word is interchangeable with above two in meaning 



12 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

and is also further used to express wonder, fear, surprise and 
sympathy, depending entirely on tonal inflection in its use. 
An upward inflection makes it mean surprise or wonder; if 
spoken short, quick and explosive, it means fear, and to speak 
it softly in a crooning way with nearly level or slight downward 
inflection, turns it into a wordless expression of sympathy and 
commiseration. 

It is one of the Indian sounds that the white man not 
familiar with the Indian tongue and methods classifies as a 
"grunt" just as he does the Indian "Ug!" or "Ugh!" (See 
"Ugh"). 



NOW — THIS TIME — THE PRESENT. 

ALTA 

A as in at in first syllable; a as in father in second syllable; 
accent -al- and pronounce Al-tah with slight breath sound 
of h at end. 

This word means "the present time," "right now," "this 
instant." It has no other meaning and is rigid, that is, it is 
never "stretched" to mean other than present time nor can 
it be used to modify; it just means "right now" and nothing 
else. 

Examples: "Chaco yowah alta," "Come here right now." 
"Alta mika mitlite copo house," "Now you stay in the house." 
"Wake alta nika klatawa," "Not now will I go." (Idea: "I 
cannot go just now.") 



FUTURE — BY AND BYE — TIME TO COME. 

ALKL 

A as in at; i as in kick; accent -al- and pronounce Al-kie with 
the last syllable short, just exactly as though you started 
to say "kick" and only got as far as "ki-." 
The word means the future, any time in the future from 

"in a moment" to a "thousand, thousand years from now." The 
length of time in-the-future is indicated by using the word in 
a slow, drawling way to mean "in a little while," and further 
lengthening the indicated time by prefixing first, "Tenas" (lit- 
tle) then by discarding "Tenas" and using "Delate" (much) as 
a prefix, then by drawing out the word "Delate" by holding 
the syllable -a- (exactly as used with ahncuttie, to indicate 
length of time past) and then by adding "Hiyu" (many) as a pre- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 13 

fix to "Delate," and then by drawing out the syllable -hi- of 
"hiyu," and last by drawing out all three words (see ahncuttie) 
which gives the meaning of the farthest possible future time. 
The word means exactlj' the opposite of ahncuttie and its future 
time value is indicated in exactly the same way by the same 
prefix words used in the same way with both time words — 
Alki, time to come; Ahncuttie, time already gone by. 

Examples: "Alki nika chaco," "By and bye I come." 
"Tenas alki mika klatawa," "In a little while he (will) go." 
"Delate alki mika nanage," "In a long time you will see (it)." 
"Hiyu delate alki," "(It will be) a long long (very long) time 
(yet)." "Hi-i-i-yu dela-a-a-te a-a-a-a-lki," "A very great long- 
time-in-the-future." (Perhaps a hundred years from now). 

"Wake alki." "Not long (yet)." 

"Alki mika iskum." "By and bye I (will) get (it)." 



SISTER. 
ATS. 

A as in hat; accent a and pronounce At-s-s with hissing sound 
of s to end the word. 

The word means "sister" and nothing else and is not very 
commonly used. "Elip tenas klootchman" is more commonly 
used to mean "my younger sister" and "Kimtah tenas klootch- 
man" to mean "My older sister." "Ats" is correct 'for "sister" 
however. r'I'JR. 

TIME PAST. 

AHNCUTTIE. 

A as in father; nasal n; u as in cut; accent — ahn — and pro- 
nounce Ahn-n-cut-ty, holding the accented syllable -ahn- 
slightly on the nasal n as in the French "oong." 

The word taken alone means time that has past or gone. 
If spoken as printed above, it means very lately, five minutes 
ago, an hour ago, a few hours ago or any like short period of 
time gone by. To express longer time, hold the first syllable 
-ahn- by prolonging the nasal n — sound thus, Ahn-n-n-n. The 
longer this "n" sound is prolonged the longer the indicated time 
past; usually a rather high, sustained pitch, or inflection, is 
given to this prolonged "n" sound and the balance^ of the word 
is then spoken quickly and with a decided drop in tone-pitch 
so that it sounds thus: Ahn-n-n-nl 

[cuttie, which means "A 
very long, long time ago," just as we would use the idea in be- 
ginning a fairy story for children. Further time past is indi- 



14 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

cated by using "Delate" (much) before the Ahncuttie; still 
further time past is indicated by holding and drawing out the 
syllable "-a-" in "Delate" to equal the nasal V as prolonged in 
Ahncuttie, but the inflection, or accent, of "Delate" is never 
dropped as it is in Ahncuttie. Spoken thus to indicate an ex- 
ceedingly long time (hundreds of years) ago the words become 
this: "De-la-a-a-a-a-te ahn-n-n-n| 

Icuttie" with "e" of "Delate" 
sounded long as in beef and "a" as in fate. If still longer time 
idea is needed then "Hiyu (many) (i as in high, u as in use), 
is used as a prefix for "Delate" and then still more time is added 
ed by holding or drawing out the -hi- syllable of Hiyu so that 
thus expressed, time dates back to the very beginning of things 
"before anyone knows about" and you express this idea thus: 
"Hi-i-i-i-i-i-yu de-la-a-a-a-a-te ahn-n-n-n-n-n| 

Icuttie," meaning 
"many-much-long ago," as an exclamation with the high tone 
pitch sustained from the beginning of -hi- to the sudden drop 
at -cuttie-. Thus, "ahncuttie" by length or shortness of the 
spoken word, and its combinations with other words, becomes 
a comparative measure of any length of time past and it is 
always used shortened or drawn out as above to fit the situa- 
tion, so its meaning is very soon understood exactly in actual 
use. To shorten the time to less than that indicated by the 
word spoken shortly, the prefix "Tenas" (small or little) cur- 
tails the time in the same way that holding the syllable above 
indicates length — and by using "Hiyu" as a prefix for "Tenas" 
the time is still further shortened until "Hiyu tenas ahncuttie," 
used as an exclamation and spoken quickly would mean, if 
speaking of something that had just happened, that the shortest 
possible time had passed since such happening. The word 
"Ahncuttie" is not much used, however, in this short-time sense 
but is nearly always used to indicate a longer time-ago, short 
time being indicated more often by "Wake lalie" (not long ago). 
"Ahncuttie" being usually reserved for long periods of time- 
passed "a long time ago" being the usual use of "Ahncuttie" in 
actual conversation. 

AN AMERICAN. 

BOSTON. 

Same as English. 

"Boston man" was used in the early days to distinguish 
an American from Spanish, French or English. Since the 
United States has owned the Northwest the word has usually 
been used to mean a white man of any nationality as dis- 
tinguished from an Indian and this is the common use today. 

Examples: "Chim, yahka Bos'n man." "Jim, he (the) 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 15 

white man." (Note: In speaking the word "Boston" the In- 
dian usually leaves out the sound of "t" and "o" following it 
and makes the word "Bos'n"). 

BABY. 
BEBE. 

Pronounce as though written bee-bee. 

Used only to mean "baby" or "infant" or "infant-like." 
Never used to mean a small child that is large enough to talk — 
always the small, helpless baby and nothing else, though it is 
used to mean "baby-horse," "baby-dog," etc., meaning a very 
small or "baby" animal in this case. It covers the idea of 
"baby," a small baby, as understood in English and is used 
just as we use the word "baby." 

Examples: "Okeoke nika bebe," "That is my (little) 
baby." "Yahka tenas kowmux bebe," "He (is a), little puppy 
(dog-baby)." "Nika klap mox ena-bebe," "I found two beav- 
er-babies." 

CANOE — BOAT OF ANY KIND. 
CANIM. 

C has sound of k; a as in fate; i as in swim; accent -nim- and 

pronounce Kay-nim. 

"Canim" is usually used to indicate a Siawash canoe though 
it is frequently used to mean any boat, the particular kind of 
boat being made plain by prefix words in the sentence. 

Examples: "Hyas piah canim," "A big fire-boat." (Idea: 
"A big boat that goes-by-fire" — "a steamer.") "Stick canim," 
"A sailing ship." (This may also be mentioned as a "sail 
canim" though "sail canim" usually means a small sail-boat.) 
"Hyas chicamun canim," "A big iron boat," "a steamer." 
("Piah canim" is more often used to mean "steamer" than 
"Chicamun canim" is — the latter being more apt to be used to 
mean "a boat built-of-iron" whether steamer or sailing vessel.) 
"Canim stick," "A mast." ("Canim sail-stick" is also used to 
mean "a mast"). (Note: "Boat," the English word, is quite 
often used nowadays to mean any boat other than a canoe and 
"canim" used to mean "canoe" alone.) 

COAT — CLOAK. 
CAPO. 

C has k sound; a as in fate; o as in oat; accent -po- and pro- 
nounce Kay-poh. 
"Capo" is from the French "Capot" and is one of the many 



16 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

French words incorporated into Chinook. It is not very much 
used, however; (indeed very few of the French words can be 
called "active" nowadays in the Chinook and most of them will 
not be used at all before many years). 

Examples: "Nika capo," "My coat." "Okeoke capo nika 
klootchman," "That cloak (belongs to) my woman (wife)." 

GRANDMOTHER. 
CHITSH. 

Chi- as in chicken; -tsh- together with slight sound of short i as 
"tish"; accent -chit- and pronounce Chit-(i)sh. 
< This word is rarely used and, while it is Chinook, not one 
Chinook speaker in a hundred would know its meaning except 
around the mouth of the Columbia River. 

GRANDFATHER. 
CHOPE. 

Accent -cho- and pronounce Cho-pe. 

What is said about "Chitsh" also applies to "Chope." Both 
words are used only in a small territory at the mouth of the 
Columbia River and are almost obsolete so far as general 
understanding of Chinook goes. 

WITH — TOGETHER WITH — HERE — THERE — 
YONDER — AT — IN — OUT — OVER — UNDER — BY 
— FOR — FROM — TO — INTO — BESIDE — AWAY 
FROM — OUT OF — THROUGH — INSTEAD — THAT 
PLACE — THIS PLACE — THE SAME AS — IN PLACE 
OF — AROUND — TOWARDS — ON — OFF, ETC. 

COPO 

Give c sound of k; both o's as in oat; just a trace of h sound at 

end; accent -co- and pronounce Ko-poh. 

Very frequently this word is spoken with a "t" at the end; 
in this case the second "o" sound very nearly disappears and 
the word becomes when spoken more like Ko-p't with "o" long 
sound as first syllable and so shortened in last syllable as to 
sound almost "pt" I think this form is in fact the most com- 
monly used but the meaning is always the same. This word can 
be described as a "coupling word" to connect any two words, any 
two ideas, any combination of ideas or to couple thing^ to 
thing, man with thing, man with man, place with place, object 
with place or thing, etc. It is one of the most hard worked 



THE CHINOOK BOOK J 7 

words in Chinook because it fits in almost any place where a 
"coupler" or joining word is needed. Its uses are manifold as 
an adverb and conjunction and it is at the same time the prin- 
cipal preposition used in Chinook — yet it is not, according to 
English grammar, either an adverb, conjunction or preposition. 
It is really just what 1 call it, a "coupling word." In some 
cases it conveys an idea and then in the next sentence it may 
be used to bring out an exactly opposite meaning. Taken alone 
it means at, in, out, over, under, around-about, within, together- 
with, for, from, to, into, out of, towards, away from, here, there, 
yonder, alongside of, than, in there, that place, this place, 
through, instead, in place of, all the same as, of, on, and man> 
more. It is a "handy" word — use it when nothing else seems 
to fit to join ideas together and you can hardly get it used in 
the wrong place. 

Examples: "Chaco copo nika," "Come with me." "Mox 
man klatawa copo," "Two men went for go) together." "Wake 
nika nanage kowmux copo mika," "I saw no dog with you." 
"Copo kah?" "Where?" (or whereabouts?) "Mesika wawa copo 
ictas yowah copo ict sun copo cole pe kloshe nanage konaway 
man copo mesika." This means "We talked ABOUT things 
OVER there FOR one day IN winter and all men kept close 
watch ON us." Capital letters denote use of word "Copo." 
This sentence shows how the word can "fit in" almost any- 
where and have many different meanings and still, taken all 
together with other words, convey a fixed descriptive idea. Prac- 
tice in speaking Chinook very quickly makes the use of it 
almost automatic and it is always at the tip of the tongue ready 
to use anywhere. 

COME — TO COME. 
CHACO. 

Ch should be given a slight t sound as -tch- (but very slightly 
so); a as in father; c has the sound of k; o as in oat; accent 
-cha- and pronounce (T')chah-ko. 

This word is the command "Come!" when used alone but 
it is also very flexible and is used to indicate past, present or 
future "come" — (I did come, I come, I will come) and is used 
to indicate the act of "coming" on the part of anyone or any- 
thing else in the past, present or future. It is always used as a 
prefix to indicate the idea of "come, came, went, will come, did 
come, may come, intends to come," or any other idea covering 
"come" past, present or future. It is one of the very common 
words of Chinook and covers a multitude of situations. 

Examples: "Nika chaco," "I come." Mesika chaco wake 
lalie," "They (will) come not long (before long or soon)." 
"Okeoke canim chaco kqkshut," "That canoe comes (or has 



18 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

come, really is) all broken up." "Nika bebe chaco memaloose," 
"My baby comes (is) dead." "Klaxtah chaco? "Who (was it) 
came?" "Kahtah mika chaco?" "How (did) you come?" 
"Konce chaco?" "How many came?" (The same words 
"Konce chaco" also mean "How much came" or "How much 
(or how many) will come?" depending on subject and sur- 
roundings when used.) 

MONEY — METAL OF ANY KIND. 
CHICKAMUN. 

Chick- as in chicken; a as in father; u as in up; accent -chick- 
and pronounce Chick-a-mun. 

This word primarily means "money" especially metal coins. 
It is also the "metal" word, any kind of metal in any form is 
always "chickamun" and the word is qualified by either a prefix 
or a following word fixing the kind of metal or the shape or 
color of the metal. 

Examples: "Pil-chickamun," "Gold" (or literally "Red 
metal"). "T'kope-chickamun," "Silver" (or literally "white 
metal"). "Klale Chickamun," "Iron" (or literally "black metal"). 
"Chickamun-lope," "Wire" or "wire rope." "Chickamun 
opitsah," a "metal knife" (used to mean a steel knife). "Klosh 
chickamun," "Is the metal good?" or "The metal is good" (used 
in talking of tools, knives, etc., and means literally "This is 
good steel" or "Is this good steel?"). "Chickamun" always 
means the metal and it can be qualified in very numerous ways 
to cover any metal in any form by use of prefix or following 
words associating the metal idea with the subject in hand. 

A WHEEL. 
CHICK-CHICK. 

Chick- as in chicken; accent first syllable and pronounce as 
written. 

The primary meaning is "wheel" but it is flexible enough 
to mean any number of wheels, any kind of a wheel, any 
wheeled vehicle, any wheeled machine, etc. The exact mean- 
ing is governed by use of qualifying words or by the use of 
the word "chick-chick" to qualify some combination of other 
words — but it always fixes the "wheel" or "has wheels" or "is 
wheels" or "runs on wheels," idea. 

Examples: "Chick-chick," "A wheel." "Chick-chick klata- 
wa," "Go on (or by) a wagon." "Chickamun chick-chick oia- 
hut," "A railroad track" (literally, "A metal wheeled-vehicle- 
road" or "A metal road for wagons"). "Piah chick-chick/' "A 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 19 

locomotive" (literally, a fire wagon, or really a goes-by-fire 
wagon). "Chick-chick wawa-copo-sun icta," "A clock," or (lit- 
eral idea expressed) "A thing-of-wheels (that) talks-time-the- 
same-as-the-Sun." (This same idea of clock could also be ex- 
pressed as "Sun-wawa-icta," (Sun talk(ing) thing) or as "Yahka 
icta wawa kwonesum kahkwa sun," "That thing that talks (tells 
time) always-the-same-as the sun." These different methods of 
idea-expression show the way an Indian is apt to use word 
combinations to express an idea when he does not know a 
definite name-word meaning for the thing he wants to talk 
about. 

WATER — ANY LIQUID SUBSTANCE. 
CHUCK. 

Pronounce exactly the same as English. 

"Chuck" primarily means "water" but is flexible and is used 
to mean the idea of liquid of any kind though more commonly 
used in connection with and to mean water. The words used 
before or after it fix its meaning and the word "chuck" used 
before or after other words fix the meaning of the other word 
to be "connected with" water or liquid. 

Examples: "Okeoke chuck," "That (is) water." "Okeoke 
pil-chuck," "That (is) blood" (literally "red water"). "Okeoke 
cultas t'-kope-chuck," "That (is) bad white-water" (literally 
meaning a river rapid or a breaking sea, etc.). "Skookum- 
chuck okeoke," "Good water that (is)." "Hyas salt-chuck," 
"Great (everywhere) salt water." (Literally "the ocean.") 
"Tum-chuck," "Water-that-falls." "Nesika chaco copo chuck," 
"We came over (or on) the water." "Kah okeoke chuck?" 
"Where is that water?" "Nika comtox Skagit chuck?" "Do you 
know (or know where is the) Skagit River?" "Halo mucka- 
muck okeoke cultas-chuck!" "Do not drink that bad water! 
(it is bad, not fit to drink)." 

Almost any combination of words can be used so that 
"chuck" couples the "water idea" or "liquid idea" with the other 
idea or ideas in mind, the shades of meaning being made clear 
by the combination-use to express the definite idea. "Piah- 
chuck" thus means "whiskey" (or any liquor containing alcohol) 
but the actual word is the combination of "fire" and "water" 
meaning "The-water-that-is-as-hot-to-the-taste-as-fire" — all this 
idea being condensed into the idea-symbol "firewater" by use 
of the word "chuck" (water) prefixed by the word "Piah" 
(fire) so that the simple saying of "firewater" (piah-chuck) 
covers the whole alcoholic-liquor catalogue in the hearer's mind 
and yet at the same time makes his mental process single out 
"whiskey" as the special or commonly-used meaning because 
whiskey is the strongest or most "fiery" of all "firewaters." 



20 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

"Tar" could be "klale sitkum-chuck" or "black half-water," 
meaning "a-black-substance that is half-fluid" or "half-water- 
like." 

Any idea of water or fluid can be expressed by remember- 
ing that "chuck" is the word for "water" or "water-like" or 
anything of fluid or liquid nature. Just how you use it must 
depend on what you talk about, where you are in relation to 
the "chuck," what it has to do with the subject in hand and 
many other things that bear on "chuck" but you can always 
use it to mean "water" or "liquid" or "fluid" of any kind and 
it will be right in Chinook. 

BAD. 

CULTAS. 

C has^ sound of k; u as in cup; a as in hat; end with shortened 
hissing sound of s on end. Accent -cul- and pronounce 
Kul-tas. 

"Cultas" alone means "bad." Different degrees of bad are 
made plain by prefix or follow-up words to make the meaning 
plain. "Cultas is always the opposite of "klosh" (good) and 
many times the opposite of'skookum" (strong), being thus 
used to convey the idea of weakness, particularly of structural 
weakness of fabric or material. A sometimes-use of "cultas" 
makes it have (as a qualifying word) a meaning of "pleasure" 
which seems directly opposite its common or usual meaning and 
thus a "pleasure trip" or trip taken entirely for pleasure be- 
comes in Chinook a "cultas-cooley" and "cultas" thereby loses 
its meaning of "bad" and is transformed into a word covering 
the idea of "pleasure" — which is one of the curious twists one 
finds occasionally in speaking Chinook. 

Its usual or common use is, however, to bring out the idea 
of "bad," "worthless," "useless," "worn out," "no good," "list- 
less," "imperfect," "defective," "no strength," etc. 

Examples: "Mesika klatawa copo cultas cooley," "We will 
go (or are going) on a pleasure trip." "Yahka man mamook 
cultas hehe tanze copo kah mitlite," "That man made a danc- 
ing party at his home." (Literally, "That man made (or gave) 
a pleasure-dance in the house where he makes his home.") 

Usual use examples: "Okeoke cultas," "That is bad" (or 
no good). "Nika cultas tumtum," "I mourn" (or feel-badly-in- 
mymind). "Mahsh okeoke cultas esick," "Throw away that 
bad (poor, defective, useless) paddle." "Okeoke canim hyas 
oleman pe delate cultas," "That canoe is very old and no-good" 
(worn-out). "Cultas nika, halo mamook." "No-good I; not 
work" (I am not well, not feeling good, (and) will not work 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 21 

(now) at this time). "Chim delate cultas man," "Jim is a very- 
bad man." 

The negative idea "not good" (wake klosh) is very fre- 
quently used in place of "cultas" but it is usually understood 
to have less force than "cultas" — that is, if you say "Okeoke 
wake klosh," you say "That is not good" (or no good), but 
it infers that in your opinion "that is no good." In other words, 
it is not a positive assertion, whereas if you say "Okeoke delate 
cultas," you say positively that "That is bad (or no good;, and 
beyond a doubt you know it to be bad or no good in this case 
while you are not sure about it when you say "Wake klosh." 



GUN. 
CALIPEEN. 

C has sound of k; a as in hat; i as in hit; ee as in seen; accent 
-cal- and pronounce Kal-lip-peen. 

Chinook word meaning "gun" of any kind, used just as 
"gun" is used in English. 

Examples: "Okeoke nika calipeen," "That is my gun." 
"Mox calipeen," "Double barreled gun" (two-gun gun). "Hiyu 
mamook-poo calipeen," "A repeating gun" (many-shoot gun). 
"Tenas calipeen," "Pistol" (little gun). "Stick calipeen," "Bow" 
(wood gun). This last is usually used thus, "Siawash stick- 
calipeen" (Indian wood-gun). 

BULLET — ARROW — SHOT. 
CALITAN. 

C has sound of k; a as in hat; i as in hit; a as in ran; accent 
-cal- and pronounce Cal-h-tan. 

Chinook word for "bullet" or "arrow." A missle thrown or 
fired from a gun, small shot; never used in any other sense. 

Examples: "Okeoke hyas calitan," "That is a big bullet." 
"Nika tika tenas calitan copo nika calipeen," "I want some snot 
for my gun." "Hyas tenas-calitan," ' 'Large size of shot." 
"Spose mika mamook klosh calitan copo siwash stick-calipeen- 
— nan?" "Can you make good arrows for a bow — yes?" "Yamca 
mowitch chaco memaloose copo calitan copo siawash stick 
calipeen," "That deer (he) was (came) killed with an arrow 
from an Indian bow." 



22 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

NEW. 

CHEE. 

Ch as in chicken; ee as in beef; accent -ee- and pronounce 
Chee. 

This word means "new" primarily and is flexible enough 
to mean "lately," "recent," and (compared with something 
older) to mean "newer," "more recent." It is used alone a great 
deal but more often as a qualifying word to fix the age or time 
of something else, thus: "Okeoke ict chee canim," "That is a 
(one) new canoe." "Mika chee-chaco?" "(Are) you a new- 
comer?" or "Did you just come (here)?" "Chee nika opitsah," 
(Literally) "New my knife is" (I have a new knife). "Chee- 
mamook okeoke," "Make it new" ("do it over" or "make a new 
one"). "Chee-chaco bebe okeoke," "A new baby (is) that." 
(This last can be either the question "Is that a new baby?" 
or a statement of fact, "That is a new baby," depending entirely 
on how and under what circumstances you use the words in 
connection with the idea to be expressed.) "Chee" used one 
way or another covers the whole idea of "new." 

UNDERSTAND — I UNDERSTAND — DO YOU UNDER- 
STAND? — RECOGNIZE — BELIEVE — KNOW. 

COMTOX. 

C has sound of k; o as in come; o as in ox; accent -com- and 

pronounce Kom-tox. 

"Comtox" is the symbol word for "understand" in every 
way. If you do, or do not, understand the case is covered by 
"comtox" used in some way. Understanding, positive knowl- 
edge and recognition are all "comtox" in Chinook. The word 
fixes the fact of understanding or knowledge wherever it is 
used either in a positive or negative sense. The words used 
as a prefix or following it in a sentence taken together with 
the surroundings, time, place, objects, etc., are what determine 
the exact shade of meaning, but it is always a symbol word 
for "understand" in some way. 

Examples: "Nika comtox," "I understand." "Halo com- 
tox nika," "I understand not." (Literally, "No understand, 
me..") "Klosh nanage pe klosh comtox," "Watch closely and 
get a good understanding (or knowledge of)." (Literally, "Good 
watch and good understand (get).") "Nika comtox hiyu 
huloime mamook." "I know (or understand) many different 
(kinds of) work." "Mika comtox pepah wawa?" "Do you un- 
derstand paper-talk?" (Can you read and write?). "Mahsh nika 
comtox," "I have forgotten." (Literally, "Thrown away, I my 
understanding (have).") 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 23 

CAMAS. 

(Cammasia Esculenta.) 

CAMAS. 

C has sound of k; a as in hat (both); accent -cam- and pro- 
nounce Kam-mas. 

The name of a bulb formerly used as food by the Indians 
all over the West. The root bulb of the Cammasia Es- 
culenta (see botany for particulars). Used as any other name 
word in Chinook or English. Almost obsolete now in Chinook 
from lack of use. 

THE BROWN BEAR. 

CHETWOOT. 

Ch as in chicken; e as in get; oo as in coo; accent -chet- and 
pronounce Chet-woo-t with terminal t short and positive. 
Name of the brown bear, no other meaning. Used same as 

"brown bear" in English. 

(See "Itswoot"— black bear.) 

COLD. 
COLE. 

Corruption of the English word "Cold." Pronounce as writ- 
ten. 

"Cole" in Chinook means usually just the same as "cold" 
in English and is used exactly as we use it. The comparative 
cold is brought out in the sentence by using prefix words to fix 
the degree of cold. Chinook has no words for "cool," "cooler," 
"coolest" — it is all "cold" — either "Tenas cole," (little cold), 
"Hiyu eole" (much cold), or "Delate hiyu cole (very much 
cold), as the case may be, but it is always "cole" in some form. 
"Wake cole," is "not very cold" and "Halo cole," is "no cold." 
Use it accordingly. "let cole" is used to mean "a year" in the 
sense of "one winter." "let cole ahncuttie" is therefore "One 
year ago." The "year" meaning is not so much used, however, 
as "cole" is usually used to indicate some degree of "cold" as 
above. 

TOBACCO. 

CHINOOS. 

Ch-together, I as in tin; oo as in coo; accent -chin- and pro- 
nounce Chin-noo-s-s with hissing sound of s at end of last 
syllable. 
Chinoos is Chinook for tobacco and nearly always means 

smoking tobacco. It never means the "killikiniek" mixture, but 



24 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

always tobacco and nothing else. A cigar is "stick-chinoos." 
Pipe tobacco is simply "chinoos," or sometimes "Tenas chinoos" 
(Little tobacco), or "Kokshut chinoos" (All-broken-up tobacco). 
Chewing tobacco is "Muck-a-muck chinoos." Use same as Eng- 
lish "tobacco" is used in conversation. 

RACE — RUN FAST — TRAVEL. 

COOLEY. 

Accent -cool- and pronounce Coo-ley. 

The word "Cooley" is one of the words in Chinook having 
a double meaning. Used in one way it indicates "speed in 
running," "racing," etc. Used in the other sense it means to 
travel slowly, to wander about, to saunter along, to "take a 
walk" without any particular object. Note that "Cultas," used 
as a prefix word, changes it entirely from indicating speed to 
indicating almost the idea of leisure or laziness. The double 
meaning is brought out in the folllowing: 

Examples: (First meaning) "Okeoke nika cooley kuitan," 
"That is my race horse." "Mesika chaco delate cooley," "We 
came in a hurry." (We kept hurrying as we traveled.) "Nika 
Kowmux comtox cooley delate," "My dog knows how to run 
well." 

(Second meaning) : "Mesika mamook cultas cooley," "We 
will take a walk," (meaning to saunter without fixed purpose 
or destination.). 

Note: "Cultas," used thus in Chinook, makes the meaning 
really "pleasure," whereas "Cultas" alone means bad. This is 
one of the peculiar things about Chinook, and occurs only in 
the use of a few words — yet an Indian will often give a twist 
to a sentence that will employ some word just as "cultas" is 
employed here to give a very different meaning from the usual 
meaning of the word he uses — and yet the listener will easily 
get the meaning intended. A white man very rarely uses any 
word in its double-meaning sense, whereas an Indian will often 
do so. 

HOG — PIG — ANY KIND OF PORK MEAT. 
COSHO. 

C has k sound; o as in oat in both syllables; accent -co- and 

pronounce Ko-sho. 

"Cosho" means pig or any kind of pig meat, bacon, ham, 
sidemeat, etc. Lard is "Cosho gleece." Literally, "Pig grease." 
A seal is a "Siawash chuck-cosho," or "Chuck-cosho.".. Liter- 
ally, "(Indian) waterpig." The word is also elastic enough to 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 25 

mean "fat," and in this meaning is used as "Delate cosho," "very 
fat" or (idea) really "very fat-like-a-pig." 

Examples: "Okeoke nika Cosho," "That is my pig." "Nika 
tika cosho gleece," "I want some lard" (Pig fat). "Yahka hiyu 
cosho man," "He (that man) is a very-fat-hke-a-pig man. 

VERY. 
DELATE. 

E as in eat; a as in skate; last e silent; accent -late- and pro- 
nounce Dee-late. 

This word taken alone means "very," but it is nearly always 
used to emphasize a statement of fact — to affirm the truth of a 
saying, to make a statement authentic beyond question, to add 
the element of certainty, correctness, truth, surety and sincer- 
ity to any saying or statement. It covers the whole idea of 
emphasis and can always be used to affirm or confirm. In speak- 
ing Chinook it is usually used to strengthen an idea, thus: 
"Okeoke klosh," "That is good." "Nowitka, DELATE klosh," 
"Yes, VERY good." "Delate nika chaco sick," "Very (much) I 
come (become) sick." (Literally, "I am very sick." "Delate 
hiyu," "A VERY great many." "Delate cultas man," "(He is a) 
VERY bad man." In short, "Delate" is always used to strength- 
en the idea indicated and to add weight to its meaning. Its 
use makes a statement or assertion positive and removes the 
element of doubt. 

THE DEVIL. 

DIAUB. 

I as in dine; au together with a as in awe; accent -aub- and 

pronounce Die-aub. 

"Diaub" is the Chinook symbol for the devil, satan, hell, 
and the whole idea of the satanic. It is used exactly as English 
"Devil" is used to express the idea of Satan. When hell is 
mant then it becomes "The-land-of-the devil." "Illahee copo 
diaub." Otherwise use as English. 

DRY. 

DLY. 

"Dly" is the Indian way of saying "dry" and lacks the 
"r" of the English word, replacing "r" with "1." The meaning 
and use in Chinook is the same as dry is used in English as it 
is simply a corruption of English "dry." 

Examples: "Mamook dly okeoke pish," "Dry those fish." 
"Halo chuck, delate dly," "No water, very dry." 



26 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

PHYSICIAN — DOCTOR OF MEDICINE. 

DOCTIN (or LADOCTIN.) 

Doc- same as English; -tin- same as English; and pronounce 
Doc-tin. 

"Doctin" is a corruption of the English word "Doctor" and 
is used as English "doctor" would be used in all cases. The 
kind of a doctor is indicated by following words, thus: "Doctin 
copo lemesin," "A physician" (doctor of medicine). "Doctin 
copo seeowist," "A doctor of the eyes" (occulist). "Doctin 
copo letah," "A doctor of teeth" (dentist). 

DOLLAR — MONEY. 

DOLLAH. 

Corruption of the English word "Dollar." Silver is "T'cope 
dollah." Gold is "Pil dollah." Half-dollar is "Sitkum dollah." 
This word is used around towns or where Indians come in fre- 
quent contact with white men. The word usually used for 
"money" is "chickamun" (metal), though "chickamun dollah" 
is a common way of saying or meaning "metal money." The 
usual use is thus: "T'cope chickamun dollah/" "A silver dol- 
lar." "Kwinum pil-chickamun dollah," "Five-dollar gold piece." 
"Sitkum dollah" is correct for "half of a dollar" and "chicka- 
mun" is never used with it. 

Note: Money of less denominations than half dollars is 
usually counted in quarters ("kwahtah") "dimes" and "sitkum 
dime" (half-dime — "nickel"). In the Northwest the word "Bit" 
is used to mean "dime" and "two bits" is a quarter. Chinook 
use,* the same terms. 

BEAVER. 

ENA. 

E as in eat; a as in father with breath sound of h following; 
accent -e- and pronounce E-nah. 

"Ena" is the Chinook word for "Beaver," the name of the 
animal, and is used just as we would use any like name in 
English. 

Examples: "Okeoke ena," "That (is) a beaver." "Klosh skin 
copo ena okeoke," "That is a fine beaver skin." (Good skin 
of a beaver that (is).) "Nika comtox kah mitlite hiyu ena," 
"I know where there are plenty (of) beaver." (Literally, "I 
know where live many beaver.") 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 27 

A PADDLE OR OAR. 
ESICK. 

E as in easy; i as in sick; accent e and pronounce E-sick. 

"Esick" is the Chinook name for "paddle" or "oar" but is 
used mostly to mean a "canoe paddle." Very common word. 

Examples: "Okeoke nika esick," "That (is) my paddle." 
"Nika iskum delate klosh oleman esick," "I have a very fine 
old paddle." (Old paddles, if good and sound, were considered 
better than new, untried ones.) "Nika tika tatlum klootchman 
esick hyak; konce chickamun?" "I want ten woman-paddles 
(paddles for women to use) quick; how much money (do you 
want for them) ?" "Okeoke delate klosh pent esick," "That is 
a fine painted paddle." 

BEFORE — IN FRONT OF. 
ELIP. 

E as in eat; i as in hit; accent (and slightly hold) e as first 

syllable; pronounce E-e-lip. 

The primary and common use of "Elip" is to mean "be- 
fore" (me), "in front of," etc. It is also used as a prefix for 
other words to show prior or "before" rights and to raise the 
age value of words, to make some other word mean "more of 
the same" than it would without "Elip" used as a prefix. 

Examples: "Elip konaway," "Before (ahead of) all." 
"Elip klosh," "More good (better than good). "Elip ow copo 
nika," "My younger brother." "Elip sitkum sun," "Before mid- 
day" (forenoon). "Klatawa elip nika," "Go in front of me." 
"Nika chaco elip mika," "I came before you (did)." 

ACROSS — TO CROSS OVER. 
ENATI. 
E as in hen; a as in hay; i as in high; accent and dwell slightly 
on -en-, make sound of a quickly, and partially or half ac- 
cent -ti-; pronounce En— n-a-tie. 

"Enati" is used to cover the whole idea of "across" or 
"cross over," to "get on the other side of." It is almost always 
used in connection with crossing over water, mountains or any 
space or territory requiring travel, though it is, and can be, used 
anywhere that the idea of "crossing over" anything is con- 
cerned. 

Examples: "Enati nika chaco elip mika." Literally, "Across 
I came before you (did)" or "I crossed ahead of you." "Mesika 
klatawa enati yahka chuck," "We (will) cross over the water." 
"Mesika mitlite enati yahka lamountn," "They live over( on the 
other side of, or across) the mountains." "Wake lalie nika 
chaco enati," "Before long I will cross (or come across) over." 
"Siah enati yowah," "Away (far away) across there." 



28 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

MUSKRAT. 

ENAPOOH. 

E as in eat; a as in father; oo as in coo, with breath sound of 
h following; accent -ena- and pronounce E-nah-pooh. 

Name of the muskrat from "Ena" (beaver) and "pooh" 
(smell-strong), "Enapooh" — "stinking beaver." (Note: The 
muskrat is sometimes, but not often, called the "Big-water- 
rat" (chuck hias-hoolhool). 

"Enapooh" in Chinook is used just as "Muskrat" would be 
used in English and is the name of a particular animal and 
nothing else. 

Examples: "Enapooh," "Muskrat." "Hiyu enapooh nika 
mamook memaloose," "I killed many muskrats." (Many musk- 
rats I made-dead.) "Konaway enapooh yahka tipso delate 
klosh," "All muskrat he (his) fur (is now) very good." "Konce 
chickmun mika potlatch copo tipso enapooh?" "How much do 
you pay for muskrat skins?" 

GREASE. 
GLEECE. 

Corruption of English "Grease." 

"Gleece" is the Chinook symbol word for grease, oil or fat 
of any kind; anything greasy is spoken of as "with grease." 
Use as in English. 

Examples: "Nika tika moosmoos gleece," "I want some 
butter" (cow-grease). "Mika iskum gleece copo piah?" (or 
lamp) "Have you oil for the lamp?" ("Lamp" is usually used 
as in English.) "Yahka man delate gleece," "That man (he) 
is very fat." ("Yahka man delate cosho," "That man (he) is 
very fat-like-a-pig," is more often used to describe a fat person, 
though either way is right and can be used.) 

DIFFERENT — STRANGER — SEPARATE FROM — 
OTHER THAN. 

HULOIME. 

U as in hull; -oi- as in oil; e as in meet; accent -oi- and pro- 
nounce Hull-loy-mee with first syllable used as a short 
breath sounded syllable; second syllable accented and held 
slightly longer than first syllable and last syllable short- 
spoken. 
Primarily the word means "different" or "different from." 

It is flexible enough to be used both as a prefix and a follow- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 29 

ing word to qualify other words and fix the idea of "different," 
"different from/' "stranger," or "stranger to me," "other than," 
"unlike," etc. If you are American you would call an Indian 
"Huloime-man," meaning, "He belongs to a different people," 
or "the people of this man and my people are different — not of 
the same blood." The word is usually used in this sense though 
it can and does cover the whole idea of "unlike," "other than," 
or "different from." Ordinarily, however, things, objects, etc., 
that are unlike are spoken of as "Halo kahkwah (not like) or 
as "Wake kahkwah," which means the same though not so 
positively. In other words, "Halo kahkwah" really symbolizes 
the idea, "I know they are not alike," while "Wake kahkwah" 
would mean more the idea of "I think they are not alike." 
The word "Wake" infers doubt though it could mean that the 
speaker knows of his own knowledge also. "Huloime" is 
always used to mean the opposite of "Kahkwah," which means 
"like" or "the-same-as." 

Examples: "Huloime tilacum," "A stranger — a man be- 
longing to a different race." "Huloime nika ictas," "Not like 
yours (my things are)." (Unlike articles.) "Huloime oiahut 
mesika chaco," "By a different road we came." "Hyas huloime 
nika," "Very much (big) different am I" (I am very unlike 
(him, you), etc. "Halo huloime mika," "Not different (people) 
(are you) from me." ("You do not belong to a different peo- 
ple, you are the same blood (that I am).) "Huloime wawa 
nika," "Different (speech) you talk (from me)." ("Your lan- 
guage is different from mine.") The word can be used in many 
ways, sometimes to follow other word groups to imply or 
indicate the idea of "different from" though it usually -begins the 
sentence it is used in and thereby fixes the idea of "different 
from" whatever is being talked about. 

FAST — SWIFT — HURRY. 
HYAK. 

Y sounds as i in high; a as in fat; accent -hy- and pronounce 

High-ak. 

This word always indicates speed in some degree and is 
qualified by using "Hyas" (big), "Hiyu" (many), "Delate" 
(very), or a combination of these words used as a prefix to in- 
crease the speed indicated. If negative speed (decreased 
speed) less speed, slower, slowly or slow down, is to be indi- 
cated, then "Tenas," "Wake hiyu," "Halo," "Wake," "Delate 
tenas," or any other suitable combination of words meaning 
"no," "not," "less," "less than," "slower," "not so much as," 
"smaller," etc., is used as a prefix. Words indicating the gen- 
eral idea of "much" or "many" increase the speed indicating 
value of "Hyak" when used as a prefix and words indicating the 



30 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

general idea of "small," "little," etc., decrease the speed-indi- 
cating value of "Hyak" when used as a prefix. 

Examples: "Chaco hyak!" "Come (in a) hurry!" "Wake 
hyak!" "Not (so) fast." "Tenas hyak chaco!" "Come slower!" 
"Delate tenas hyak mika," "You are very (much) slow." (Lit- 
erally, "(A) very little hurry you (are now in)." "Not much 
(do) you hurry." "Hurry not you (do).") "Delate hyas hyak 
chaco mika!" "Hurry as fast as you can!" (Literally, "Very 
big fast, come you.") "Hyas hyak nika chaco!" "I (am) com- 
ing as fast as I can!" (Literally, "Big-fast I (am) coming 
(now).") 

"Hyak" is the "speed" or "hurry" word always, no matter 
how it is used and it can mean speed or no-speed, depending 
on the words with it as above. 

NO. 
HALO. 

A as in hay; o as in oat; accent -ha- and pronounce Hay-low. 

"Halo" is the word of positive denial used exactly as is 
English "No" and in many cases elastic enough to mean "not" 
or "do not," but used in this way usually as a command as 
"Halo klatawa mika!" (Literally, "No go you," the English 
command, "Do not go.") "Halo nika nanage." (Literally, 
"Not I see." English idea of "I do not see" or "I have not 
seen" or "I will not see," depending entirely on immediately- 
prior conversation. In an ordinary sense the word "Wake" 
is used to mean "not," "do not," "will not," "shall not," "may 
not," "cannot," and like ideas, but "Wake" is not used to mean 
"No" as "Halo" is. Both words are used to mean "not any," 
which one depending on what the talk is about and the words 
used with it. 

Examples: "Chaco mika?" "Come you?" "Halo," "No." 
"Chaco mika?" "Come you?" "Wake tumtum," "I think not." 
"Halo chaco mika?" "Not come you?" "Wake comtox," "I am 
in doubt; I know not as yet; I am undecided." "Chaco mika?" 
"Come you?" "Halo nika." "Not I." (Literally, "No me.") 
"Halo" and "Wake" are in a way interchangeable, but "Halo" is 
positive "no" always where "Wake" can be negative and still 
convey the idea of doubt more than "Halo" does; in other words, 
"Halo" is the positive "no" and should be so used. 

OPEN. 

HAHLAKL. 

A as in father in both syllables; accent -hah- and pronounce 
Hah-lah-kle, shortening second and third syllables as much 
as possible so the sound of both combined is more "-Lah- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 31 

kahl" spoken very short and in a nearly explosive manner. 

A little practice will make it easy. 

The word "Hahlakl means "Open," "to open," as a door; 
"open out," to "thin" as woods, etc. It is not in very common 
use. 

PULL — DRAW — DRAG. 

HAUL. 

English word, pronounce as in English. 

"Haul" in Chinook covers the idea of "pull," "haul," "drag," 
"tow," etc. It is equivalent to the English definition of English 
"Haul" and is used the same way. 

Examples: "Mamook haul okeoke," "Drag that (haul it) 
over here." (Literally, "Make haul that.") "Mamook haul 
sahale nika canim copo polalie illahee," "Haul your canoe up 
on the sand." (Literally, "Make haul up your canoe on (the) 
sand.") "Yowah! Iskum lope pe nika haul mika canim," "Here! 
Get (this) rope and I will tow your canoe." 

LAUGH — FUN — JOY. 
HEEHEE. 

E as in we; accent first syllable and pronounce as written, 

Hee-hee. 

"Heehee" covers the whole idea of mirth and joy in Chi- 
nook. It also means "play" in the sense of recreation. "Ma- 
mook heehee" (make fun) is to join in the festivities if used in 
the ordinary way, though it could mean "laugh" or "did laugh" 
("Nika mamook heehee"). 

Examples: "Chaco pe mamook heehee," "Come and (we 
will) make fun." "Delate heehee yahka mamook," "A great 
celebration (it was) he (made) gave." "Okeoke kowmux ma- 
mook tanze kahkwa man, delate heehee okeoke," "That dog 
made a dance like a man, very funny was that." "Halo mamook, 
okeoke cultas, wake heehee," "Do not (do it) that bad; no fun." 
"Spose heehee, mika chaco?" "If (there is a) celebration (of 
any kind) (will) you come?" "Klosh heehee mesika, a-ah," 
"We had a good time — we are well pleased." (Literally, "Good 
fun us, a-ah.") 

MOUSE. 

HOOLHOOL. 

Oo as in coo; accent first syllable and pronounce as written, 
Hool-hool. 
"Hoolhool" means "mouse." By using "Tenas" as a pre- 



32 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

fix (Tenas hoolhool) it means "little mouse." If "Hyas" is 
used as a prefix(Hyas hoolhool) the meaning becomes "Big- 
mouse," and is used thus to mean the common rat. "Chuck 
hyas-hoolhool" is a muskrat, though the muskrat is nearly al- 
ways called "Enapooh" (stink-beaver). "Hoolhool" is not a 
very common word and is used more by Indian women who 
work about ranches for white women than anywhere else. 
You might not hear it once in a year. 

BUILDING — HOUSE OF ANY KIND. 
HOUSE. 

The English word used in the same sense and meaning as 
English. Usually the Chinook words precede it to fix the kind 
of a house, ownership, color, material, etc. 

Examples: "Okeoke mika house?" "(Is) that your house?" 
"Konaway house yowah delate oloman," "All (the) houses there 
(are) very old. "Nika tika laplash, mamook house," "I want 
lumber^ (to) build (a) house." "Klaxtah house okeoke?" "Whose 
house is it?" "Mitlite copo skookum house." "Put in (live in) 
the stronghouse (jail)." 

SHIVER — SHAKE. 
HULLEL. 

U as in hull; e as in well; accent -lei- and pronounce Hull-lel. 
"Hullel" means "shiver" or "shake" but is so uncommon 
that it is almost obsolete. "Mamook" used as a prefix makes 
it mean "shivering" or "shaking." Hardly ever used, however, 
even by expert Chinook speakers. 

BAD SMELL — STINK. 
HUMM. 

U as in hum; the m sound nasal and drawn out, pronounce like 

English "Hum" and then hold m sound to prolong the 

word thus, Hum-m-m. 

"Humm" means "Stink." It is applied to mean any decided 
odor either good or bad, but more commonly used to mean a 
stench or "bad stink." The skunk is called "Humm-opoots" or, 
literally, "Stinks-his-tail," and serves to show the full meaning 
of "Humm" as meaning "Stink." "Poo" is also used to mean 
stink, but "Humm" is the more commonly used of the two. 

Examples: "Delate humm! Klonas halo ict kuitan chaco 
memaloose," "(There is a) very (bad) smell — perhaps (not) one 
horse has died." "Lolo konaway pish copo salt chuck pe ma- 
mook mahsh — yahka chaco ahncuttie memaloose — hiyu delate 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 33 

cultas humm!" "Carry all (of those) fish to (the) salt water 
and throw them away (in). They come dead a long time, they 
very bad smell." 

BIG— GREAT SIZE — LARGE BULK. 
HYAS. 

I as in high; a as in hat; accent -hy- and pronounce High-as. 

"Hyas" is the size word in Chinook. Used alone it means 
"great size/' "large," "great amount of," or any other idea of 
"bigness." The size is increased by using "Delate" as a prefix 
word. "Delate hyas" thus means "bigger than big" and by 
using "Hiyu" as a prefix for "Delate" the size is still further 
increased, thus, "Hiyu delate hyas" means "very, very large," 
and then if the idea of vastness is to be expressed the whole 
three words should be drawn out slowly in pronouncing, thus, 
"Hi-i-i-iyu de-1-a-a-a-a-ate hy-y-y-y-yas," meaning "more (in 
bulk, size or distance) than any one knows (or can compre- 
hend"). "Tenas" used as a prefix decreases the size, thus, 
"Tenas hyas" means "little-big" or, literally, "Not so much of 
it" — "smaller," etc., and still smaller size can be expressed by 
using the words "Hiyu" or "Delate" or both of them as prefix 
words before "Tenas hyas," though the idea of "small," "lit- 
tle," etc., is usually expressed through like modification of the 
word "Tenas" alone and "Hyas" is nearly always used and un- 
derstood to mean "big" or "bulky" and "tenas" the opposite, or 
"little," "small," etc. 

The word "Hyas" is almost always associated with the idea 
of bulk, great quantity, big, etc. 

Examples: "Hyas klosh mamook mika," "You did a large 
amount of good work." (Big-good worker you.) "Hyas Sun- 
day," "Big Sunday." (Christmas, the day-like-a-big-Sunday.) 
"Hyas tyee," "The big (head) chief." "Okeoke delate hyas 
stick," "That (is a) very big tree (or timber)." "Klaska okeoke 
hyas man?" "Who is that big man?" "Hiyu del-a-a-a-te 
hy-y-y-as okeoke piah canim," "Very, very large (is) that fire 
ship (steamer)." "Mesika mamook hyas klosh tahmahnawis 
house," "We built a very large church." "Delate hyas okeoke 
lamountn," "Very large (are) those mountains." 

MUCH — MUCH OF — A GREAT QUANTITY — PLENTY 
— A GREAT DEAL OF. 

HIYU. 

I as in high; u as in union with a slight breath sound of h as 
though it were Uh with the h a breath sound only, fol- 
lowing u spoken "you-h," accent -hi- and slightly hold the 
-i- and pronounce Hi-i-you-h. 



34 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

"Hiyu" is one of the very common words of Chinook and 
is used mostly as a prefix to fix the idea of "plenty-of" in con- 
nection with other words. It is the symbol of "much," "plenty 
of," "a great amount of," "great numbers," "a large amount of 
the same thing," etc. It adds length to distance, bulk to size, 
numbers to an amount, "more" to anything, etc., when used as 
a prefix. It is also used as a prefix to "Tenas" to make 
"Tenas" mean "more small" or "smaller." Used the same way 
with "Halo" (no) or "Wake" (not) it increases the value of 
both words by making them more positive, thus: "Hiyu halo," 
"Positively, no." Literally, "A great-deal-more-no." "Wake 
hiyu lalie," "Not very long (ago or in the future)." Literally, 
"Not-much long time." 

The commonly expressed use of "Hiyu," however, is to 
increase value rather than to decrease, so it stands in Chinook 
as the word-symbol for the general idea of "plenty" and is 
rarely used otherwise by those who talk Chinook fluently. 

Examples: "Nika iskum hiyu tilacums," "I have many 
friends (or, sometimes, relations)." "Hiyu pish mika iskum," 
"Many fish you have (or caught)." "Hiyu delate siah," "It is 
very far." (Literally, "Hiyu," plenty; "delate," much; "siah," 
far (it is).) "Hiyu kahkwah nika," "Very much (plenty) like 
me." "Hiyu man chaco," "Many (plenty of) men come (are 
coming)." Negative example: "Tenas hiyu okeoke man tika," 
"A small amount only that man desires." (He only wants a 
little bit.) "Wake hiyu nika seowist," "I did not see many." 
(Literally, "Not many I see, or saw.") 

WHAT — WHAT IS IT? 
ICTA. 

I as in pick; give c sound of k; a as in father with h sound fol- 
lowing; accent -ic- and pronounce Ik-tah-h-h-h. 
"Icta" is the question symbol of Chinook and is used any 
place where the English question "what?" would be used. This 
covers all such ideas as "What is it?" "What was it?" "What 
will it be?" "What did it?" "What will it?" etc. It always 
precedes the rest of the sentence where it is used and questions 
everything. 

Examples: "Icta okeoke?" "What (is, was or will be) 
that?" "Icta mamook okeoke?" "What does (did or will do) 
that?" "Icta mika tika?" "What do you desire (want or wish 
for)?" "Icta man?" "What man?" "Icta," "What?" (interroga- 
tion). "Icta mika mamook?" "What (are) you do(ing)?" 

"Kahtah" is sometimes used in place of "Icta" but infre- 
quently. "Kahtah" really means "Why?" or "How?" more 
than "What?" though it is used to mean "what" also. Good 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 35 

Chinook speakers, however, nearly always use "Icta," to mean 
"What" in place of "Kahtah," and use the latter for "Why" 
and "How." "Icta" should be used altogether to mean "what" 
and the student will do well to use it so — using "Kahtah" for 
"How" and "Why." 

SHUT— CLOSE UP. 
IKPOOIE. 

I as in hit; oo as in coo; i as in it: accent -poo- and pronounce 
Ik-poo-ie. 

"Ikpooie" means "to shut," "close up," "stop up," etc. It 
is not very commonly used and is more apt to be heard in con- 
nection with such ideas as "caulk the boat seams" (Mamook 
ikpooie okeoke canim) than anywhere else. "Mamook ikpooie 
yahka lapote," "Shut the door" (Make the door close up), is 
good Chinook but not often used. You might not hear the 
word used once in a year. 



LOUSE. 
INAPOO. 

I as in ink; a as in father; oo as in coo; accent -in- and pro- 
nounce In-a-poo. 

The Chinook name for louse. Not very commonly used 
except with the prefix word "Sopena" (jump), thus, "Sopena 
inapoo," "A jump-louse" (flea). 



SECRET — HIDDEN. 
IPSOOT. 

I as in if: oo as in coo; accent -ip- and pronounce Ip-soot. 
"Ipsoot" means "secret," "hidden," "concealed," etc. Not 
very commonly used. 

Examples: "Nika mamook ipsoot konaway piahchuck," 
"I have made-hidden all (the) whiskey." "Halo wawa mesika 
ipsoot," "Do not tell our secret" (Keep it to yourself). "Nika 
canim hiyu ipsoot, halo nika klap, klosh nanage copo konaway 
illahee," "My canoe is (big) hidden, I cannot find (it), I have 
looked all (over) the land (for it)." (Idea: "My canoe is gone, 
I can not find it though I have looked everywhere.") 



36 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

MEAT — FLESH. 
ITLWILLIE. 

I as in hit; -tl- together; balance same as "Willie" in English; 

accent -itl- and pronounce It-1-willie. (The word sounds 

more like the "baby talk," 'ittle Willie, in English than 

anything else.) 

"Itlwillie" means "meat," "muscle" or "flesh of," but it is 
not very commonly used in Chinook except to specify "muscle" 
and then not often. "Meat" or "flesh" is usually spoken of as 
(idea) "The-meat-of-the-deer-to-eat," thus, "Mowitch mucka- 
muck" or "Muckamuck copo mowitch." (Deer meat-to-eat or 
meat-to-eat of-the-deer.) "Itlwillie" is very rarely used at all 
but combinations like the above examples usually are used to 
designate "meat" or "meat-to-eat." When "Itlwillie" is used 
at all it is likely to be used in some manner to mean "muscle," 
thus: "Okeoke man iskum delate itlwillie," "That man has 
very much muscle." Even in this sense the thought is more 
apt to be expressed thus, "Okeoke delate skookum man." "That 
(is a) very strong man." 

THE BLACK BEAR. 
ITSWOOT. 

I as in hit; oo as in coo; accent -its- and pronounce Its-woo-t, 

with the terminal t short and positive. 

Name of the common black bear. No other meaning. Used 
as "black bear" would be used in English. 

(See "Ena," "beaver"; "Enapoo," "muskrat," etc., for ex- 
amples.) 

GOODS — BELONGINGS — PERSONAL PROPERTY OF 
ANY KIND — THINGS BELONGING TO ANY ONE. 

ICTAS. 

I as in it; c has sound of k; a as in father; accent -ic-; the 

sound is more as though the word was spelled Ik-tahz 

with accent on -ik-. 

"Ictas" is a collective-personal-property symbol used in 
Chinook to mean any and all kinds of "things," mostly of a per- 
sonal property nature (but not altogether). It can mean "any- 
thing" or "any property" or "all things" or "all my things," 
"all his things," "belongings," "goods," etc. It covers the whole 
idea of "things" of all kinds and of any nature. A very common 
Chinook word with a multitude of apt uses. 

Examples: "Kah mika ictas?" "Where (are) your things?" 
(Belongings, property, etc.) "Nika ictas mitlite copo nika 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 37 

house," "My things are at my house." "Mamook tenas hiyu 
ictas copo lecasset pe chaco," "Put a few things in the trunk 
and come on." "Kah nika tika okeoke ictas?" "Where (do) you 
want these things (put) ?" (Idea, "Where will you have me 
put these things?") 

ONE. 

ICT. 

I as in it; c has sound of k; t short, and pronounce Ikt. 

"let" is the Chinook for the numeral "one" and has no 
other meaning. It is always "one" and no more. 

Examples: "let," "One." "Okeoke ict klosh kuitan," "That 
(is) one good horse." (Used to mean a very good horse, a horse 
that stands alone on account of good qualities.) "Ict man 
chaco," "One man came." (One man alone came; no more than 
one man.) 

LAND — EARTH — ANY PART OF THE EARTH. 

ILLAHEE. 

I as in ill; a as in fate; ee as in free; accent -ill- and pronounce 

Ill-a-hee. 

"Illahee" is the word symbol for earth, the ground, any 
part of the earth, land of any kind, etc. It is usually, if not 
entirely, used with a qualifying prefix word which fixes the 
kind of earth, the position of the land spoken of, the ownership 
of the land, the relationship of the land to anything else, etc. 
"Illahee" alone means "the land." 

Examples: "Okeoke nika illahee," "This (is) my land." 
(Meaning this land belongs, to me, it is my own, my home.) 
"Copo polallie illahee," "In (over, by, alongside of) the sand- 
earth." (Literally, "Polallie illahee," "Powder earth.") "Klale 
illahee okeoke," "Black land that is." "Siah, copo cole-snass 
illahee," "Far (up) in the snow-ground." (High up in the 
mountains.) "Kah mika illahee?" (Literally, "Where (is) your 
land (home) ?") "Where do you live, where is your home 
ground?" "Konce siah okeoke illahee?" "How far (away is) 
that land (country) ?" "Okeoke klosh illahee," "That (is) good 
ground." "Moosmoos muckamuck illahee," "Cow pasture." 
(Literally, "Cattle (where they) eat ground.") 

TO GET — RECEIVE — ACCEPT — ACQUIRE — HAVE — 

HAS. 
ISKUM. 

I as in it; hissing s; u as in up; dwell slightly on m as a nasal 
sound; accent -is- and pronounce Is-s-kum-m. 



38 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

"Iskum" is the possessive symbol in Chinook and it means 
to "get," to "take to yourself," to "have and to hold," to "re- 
ceive, accept or obtain" anything. It covers the whole idea of 
possession, now, in the past or at some future time. It is used 
as a prefix word to mean "I will get" and also to mean "I have 
now in my possession." Usually it follows the object when it 
means "I did get," but this does not always hold good. In 
using the word it is always safe to use it to symbolize the ideas 
of "I get," "I will get," "I did get." The construction of the 
sentence using it should be after the Indian method, though it 
is safe to use it just as you would use "get" in English. 

Examples: "Iskum okeoke," "Get that." "Nika iskum 
okeoke wake lalie," "I (will) get that before long." (Literally, 
"I will-get that not-long.") "Nika iskum konce nika klatawa 
yowah," "I (will) get (that) when I go there." "Kan mika iskum 
konaway ictas?" "Where (did) you get all (of those) things?" 
"Kahtah elip mika iskum?" "How (long) before you (will) get 
(it)?" "Nika iskum yowah," "I have (it) here." "Spose mika 
iskum?" "Will you get (it)?" 

WHERE — WHEREABOUTS — TO WHERE. 
KAH. 

A as in father; h almost silent; accent -ah- and pronounce as 

written. 

"Kah" is the symbol of "Where?" in Chinook and is used 
as English "where" is used mostly. It is also used to designate 
place in the sense that it fixes "to where" we are going and, to 
use a slang expression, "where at" we live, etc. 

Examples: "Kah mika klatawa?" "Where (do) you go?" 
"Copo kah mika mitlite," "To where I live." "Kah?" "Where?" 
or "Where-is (it)?" "Kah mika chaco?" "Where (did) you 
come from?" "Kah mika iskum?" "Where (did) you get (it)?" 
"Mika comtox kah nika tenas man?" "(Do) you know where 
(is) my little boy?" "Siah yowah kah mitlite itswoot," "Far 
(away) there, where lives (the) black bear." "Yahka mitlite 
copo house kah t'zum-wawa stick," "He lives in (the) house 
where (is) the painted-board (sign)." 

Whenever and wherever the English "Where" can be or is 
used, there "Kah" properly belongs in Chinook to cover the 
idea of inquiry or to fix place or position and should be so used. 

DOWN — BELOW — UNDERNEATH. 
KEKWILLIE. 

E as in me; kw has sound of English q; i as in it; e as in me; 
accent -ke- and pronounce Key-quill-ly. 
Used to mean exactly opposite of "Sahale" (up), its full 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 39 

meaning depending on words used with it, as "Chuck delate 
kekwillie" would mean "Water-very-deep" or "Far-down-in" 
(the water (is).) The last by inference of associated ideas and 
not by spoken words. It is commonly used to mean "deep" 
or "down" in any sense. 

Examples: "Mika chaco kekwillie copo nika," "You come 
down with me." "Nika opitsah klatawa kekwillie copo chuck," 
"My knife sunk down in the water." .."Wake mamook kekwillie! 
Mamook sahale!" "Don't put it down! Put it up!" "Konce 
nika mamook poo okeoke mowitch yahka klatawa siah kekwil- 
lie copo lamount'n pe mitlite copo hyak skookum chuck," 
"When I shot that deer he (fell) go far (away) down the 
mountain and landed (stopped) in the swift river." (Idea: "I 
shot a deer that fell down the mountain and into the swift 
river.") 

OLDER BROTHER. 

KAHPO. 

A as in father; o as in over; accent -kah- and pronounce Kah- 

poh. 

Used to mean "Older brother," but very infrequently. Al- 
most useless as very few Chinook speakers would understand 
its meaning. 

A BIRD. 

KULLAKULLA. 

U as in up; a as in father; accent first and fourth syllables, and 

pronounce Kul-la-kul-lah. 

The Chinook symbol word for "bird," any bird. The full 
meaning is brought out by prefix words describing the kind 
of a bird and the word is used following other words to give 
the meaning of "birdlike." 

Examples: "Okeoke klale chuck kullakulla," "That (is) a 
black water-bird." "Hyas t'kope kullakulla," "A large white 
bird." "Kullakulla muckamuck stick," "Woodpecker" (the-bird- 
that-eats-wood). "Delate klosh muckamuck kullakulla," "A fine 
bird to eat." (Very good-to-eat bird.) "Siah lepee kullakulla 
mitlite copo chuck illahee," "A long legged bird that-lives-in 
the water-land (swamps)." (The crane, snipe or heron.) 

DOG. 
KOWMUX. 

Ow as in how; u as in up; accent -kow- and pronounce Kow- 

mux. 

Indian name for dog, used as any other name word is used 
in Chinook. Has no other meaning except when used with 



40 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

other words such as "Kahkwa" (like) then it gives the under- 
standing of "doglike" (Kahkwa kowmux), which conveys the 
idea of "low," "dirty," etc. 

Examples: "Okeoke nika kowmux," "That (is) my dog." 
"Nika iskum mox hyas kowmux copo Chim," "I got two big 
dogs from Jim." "Okeoke man yahka cultas kahkwa kowmux," 
"That man, he is low (bad) like-a-dog." 

THIEF — STEAL — STOLEN. 
KAPSWALLIE. 

A as in hat; a as in father; lie as ly in lily; accent -kap- and 

pronounce Kap-swal-ly. 

"Kapswallie" covers the whole idea of theft or thief in 
Chinook and is used in various ways with other word combina- 
tions to mean "thief," "thieves," "steal," "stole," "stolen," or 
any other idea connected with theft. 

Examples: "Yahka kapswallie man," "He is a thief" (a 
steal-man). "Konaway nika canim kapswallie!" "All (of) my 
canoes (have been) stolen!" "Okeoke kapswallie ictas," "Those 
things (have been) stolen." "Spose kapswallie?" "Do you sup- 
pose they will be stolen," or "Shall we steal them?" (depend- 
ing on circumstances, subject and surroundings). "Okeoke man 
kapswallie nika tenas klootchman pe mamook mallah," "That 
man stole my daughter and married her." "Nika kapswallie 
hiyu kuitan copo Yakima," "I stole a lot of horses from the 
Yakimas." 

CENTER. 

KATSUK. 

A as in hat; u as in up; accent -kat- and pronounce Kat-suk. 
Chinook for "the center." Very little used, however, and 
almost obsolete. "Sitkum" (half) being almost always used in 
place of it to mean "half way," "one-half." "the middle," "cen- 
ter," etc. (See "Sitkum.") 

COFFEE. 
KAUPEE. 

Corruption of the English word "coffee," and used just as 
English "coffee" is used. The Indian tongue cannot sound the 
"F" and always makes it "P," therefore, the word is really 
"coppee" but this spelling does not quite indicate "coffee' with 
the "p" substituted for "f" in sounds when the word is spoken, 
so the "Kaupee" spelling is used. 

Examples: "Nika tika tenas kaupee," "I want (a) little cof- 
fee." "Okeoke klosh kaupee," "That (is) good coffee." "Konce 
chickamun kaupee — ict pound," "How much (is) coffee — one 
pound?" 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 41 

TO UPSET — TURN UPSIDE DOWN. 
KEELAPI. 

Ee as in feel; a as in fate; i as in high; accent -keel- and pro- 
nounce Keel-a-pie. 

"Keelapi" is Chinook for "capsize," "turn over," "turn up- 
side down," "upset," "go bottom up," etc. Usually "chaco" 
(come) is used as a prefix word so that a thing does not simply 
"upset" but always "comes upset." (This is a common way of 
constructing ideas in Chinook.) 

Examples: "Klosh nanage, chaco keelapi!" "Look out (you 
will) come upset!" "Halo keelapi — klosh kahkwa!" "Do not 
turn it over — it is good as it is!" "Copo delate wind nika sail- 
house chaco keelapi," "In (the) much wind my tent (came) 
turned upside-down." "Mamook keelapi okeoke stick," "Turn 
the log over." "Nika bebe yahka mitlite keelapi copo illahee pe 
mamook delate heehee," "My baby he lies on his back on the 
ground and plays a great deal." 

ENGLISH MAN. 
KING ZGHORZGH MAN. 

Indian adaptation of "King George," meaning an English- 
man. Formerly used extensively to distinguish English peo- 
ple from other white men. Now used so rarely as to be almost 
obsolete, as the Indian classes all white men together now as 
one people under the head of "Bos'n man," which formerly 
meant "American" but nowadays means any "white man." 

TO DRIVE AWAY. 

KISHKISH. 

I as in fish; both syllables; accent first syllable and pronounce 

as written. 

"Kishkish" means "drive away," but is so little used as to 
be almost obsolete. Not a desirable word in Chinook anyway 
(all such double words, if retained at all, should be halved and 
not used in the repeated form). 

HORSE. 

KUITAN. 

U as in use; i as in hit; a as in hand; accent -ku- and pronounce 
Ku-i-tan, giving the first syllable -ku- almost the same 
sound as the English letter "Q" which makes the word 
when spoken sound as though written "Q-wit-tan" which 
is as near as the English will render it. 



42 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

"Kuitan" is the Chinook name for "horse," any horse. It 
is of frequent use and can be used in any way that English 
"horse" is commonly used. 

Examples: "Iskum kuitan pe mamook ictas copo chick- 
chick," "Get (the) horses and put (the) things in (the) wagon." 
"Nika iskum klosh cooley kuitan," "I have a good race horse." 
"Konaway nika kuitan klatawa, halo nika klap," "All my horses 
(are) gone, I can't find (them)." "Wake chaco copo kuitan, 
chaco copo canim," "Do not come with horses, come with 
canoes." 

OUTSIDE. 

KLAHANIE. 

A as in father, both syllables; ie as y in lily; accent -kla- and 

pronounce Kla-hah-ny. 

Chinook word for "outside," "exterior," etc. Very little 
used, almost obsolete and not one Chinook talker in a hundred 
would know its meaning nowadays. "Mahsh" is used with 
other words to take its place nowadays. 

DISTRESS — MENTAL OR PHYSICAL. 
KLAHOWYUM. 

(See "Klahowya.") 

"Klahowyum" practically obsolete now; meaning above 
given was correct at one time but the word is scarcely used 
at all nowadays. "Klahowya" was once used in an interchange- 
able way with "Klahowyum" but the latter is now discarded 
and "Klahowya" is changed in meaning to the salutation, "How 
are you?" and only the oldest Indians would know the meaning 
of "Klahowyum" if used today. 

SLOW. 
KLAHWA. 

A as in father, both syllables; accent -klah- and pronounce 

Klah-wah. 

Formerly the word meant "slow," "go slow," "caution," 
etc., but is practically obsolete now and so little used as to be 
almost useless to Chinook unless revived. The common way 
of saying "slow" now is "Wake hyak" (not fast). 

AWAY FROM — OFF OF. 

KLAK. 

Pronounce as written. 

Original meaning was to "take off," "put away," etc. So 
little used now as to be practically obsolete. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 43 

BLACK — DARK BLUE. 
KLALE. 

A as in fate; accent -a- and pronounce as written. 

"Klale" means "black," primarily, though it is often used 
to mean dark blue or any other very dark color. It is a curious 
fact that all Indians use the same words to mean "black" or 
"dark blue" when speaking in their own tongue, and I do not 
know of any Indians who have different words for "black" and 
"blue," so it is not surprising that the word "Klale" covers both 
these colors, and in addition, any other very dark color, in 
Chinook. 

"Klale" is used to mean dark color in or connected with 
anything. 

Examples: "Klale man," "Black man" (negro). "Okeoke 
klale-pent," "That is black paint." ' "Nika tika klale sail," "1 
want some blue cloth." ("Delate-klale," "black".) "Okeoke 
t'zum klale sail klosh," "That black-spotted-cloth (is) good." 
"Mika nanage nika klale kuitan?" "(Have) vou seen my black 
horse?" 

FIND. 

KLAP. 

Pronounce as written. 

"Klap" means "find," "to find," "did find," "will find," or 
any other idea connected with "find" or "found," and is used 
accordingly with prefix or following words to bring out the full 
meaning, just as many other Chinook words are used. 

Examples: "T'solo nika opitsah, spose mesika klap?" "Lost 
my knife is (do you) suppose (we can) find (it) ?" "Nika klap 
ict siawash cosho bebe," "I found a baby seal." "Kah mika 
klap okeoke?" "Where (did) you find that?" "Klosh nanage 
nika pe halo klap nika lehash," "I have looked good and cannot 
find my axe." (Literally: "Good look I and no find my axe.") 
"Nika tumtum wake mika klap mika canim," "I think not you 
(will) find your canoe." 

A LIE. 
KLIMINAWHIT. 

I as in hit (all syllables); a as in father; accent -min- and 
pronounce Kli-min-a-whit. 

Formerly used to mean "a lie," "falsehood," "untruth," 
etc. Nowadays so little used as to be practically obsolete. 
"Mox wawa" (double talk) is most commonly used to indicate 
"lie" now and very few Chinook speakers would know the 
meaning of "Kliminawhit" if it were used. 



44 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

PULVERIZED — FINELY GROUND. 
KLIMIN. 

I as in him (both syllables); accent -klim- and pronounce 

Klim-min. 

"Klimin" means purverized, finely ground, flour-like in 

character, etc. Now so little used as to be nearly obsolete. 

A MAT MADE OF RUSHES. 
KLISKWIS. 

I as in his (both syllables); accent -klis- and pronounce Kl»» 
kwis. 

Siawash name for the mats they weave from leaves of the 
"cattail" and use as a mattress. Of little use in Chinook except 
when trading for or buying these mats. Never used in ordi- 
nary Chinook conversation otherwise. 

THREE. 
KLONE. 

O as in home; pronounce as written. 

"Klone," the numeral "three." Used in Chinook exactly as 
"three' is used in English. 

Examples: "Klone man chaco," "Three men came." "Nika 
tika klone kuitan," "I want three horses." 

TO TIE. 
KOW. 

Pronounce same as English "cow." 

"Kow" means "to tie," "fasten," "make fast," etc. "Ma- 
mook" is used as a prefix word to mean "make tied" (tie it). 
"Wake" or "Halo" used as prefix words makes the negative 
meaning of "not" or "no-tie." "Mahsh" used as a prefix means 
to "untie," "loosen," etc. 

Examples: "Mamook kow nika lacasset," "Make tie up my 
trunk." "Yahka kow, nah?" "Is it tied?" "Klosh kow kahkwa 
okeoke," "It is well tied that way." "Halo mika kow okeoke," 
"Do not (you) tie that." "Wake nika tumtum mika mamook kow 
mika kuitan," "Not I think you make tied your horse." "Wake 
kow — mahsh!" "Don't tie it — untie it!" "Mahsh yahka kow copo 
lope copo kowmux," "Untie the rope that fastens the dog." 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 45 

HARD — SOLID — ROCKLIKE. 
KULL. 

"Kull" is the Chinook word-symbol covering the idea of 
"solid," "dense," "hard," "tough," etc. It is also used to mean 
"not easy," but more often it means "hard" in the sense of 
being solid. 

Examples: "Hyas kull okeoke stone," "That stone is very 
hard." (Very hard that stone (is). "Kull okeoke illahee, 
wake nika mamook," "Hard that ground (is) not I (can) work 
(it)." The word is good Chinook but is not used to any great 
extent. 

FENCE. 

KULLAGAN. 

U as in hull; a as in ran (both syllables); accent -kull- and 

pronounce Kull-la-gan. 

The word means "fence," but is so seldom used as to be 
practically obsolete. 

ONE QUARTER. 

KWAHTAH. 

A corruption of English "Quarter," pronounced as nearly 
English as the Indian can get the sounds. Used mostly to 
mean a quarter of a dollar (ict kwahtah) in connection with 
money matters, where it is used just as the English "quarter" 
is used. Not so much used in speaking, however, as "Mox bit" 
(Two bits) is used, to mean "a quarter," or 25 cents. Both 
phrases, "Ict kwahtah" and "Mox bit" are right, both are partly 
English, partly Chinook, but custom makes "Mox bit" the most 
common expression simply because "two bits" is the usual 
English for "a quarter" in the country where Chinook is spok- 
en. 

NINE. 

KWAIST. 

"Kwaist" is the correct Chinook for the numeral "nine" 
but it is not used in actual conversation as much as some fig- 
ure-combination like "six and three" (tokum pe klone) or "five 
and four" (Kwinum pe lokut) to mean "nine." It is the only 
numeral designated thus in Chinook and for no apparent rea- 
son either. One says "five and four" for "nine" (kwaist) in 
Chinook but he says "tatlum" always for "ten" and never "twice 
five." Why this should be is a mystery. "Kwaist" should by 
all means be used to mean "nine" and used the same as any 
other of the figure-names in Chinook. (See "Counting in Chi- 
nook") , i_y| 



46 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

GLAD — JOY. 
KWAN. 

A as in father; accent -a- and pronounce Kwah-n-n with nasal 
n sound slightly prolonged to end the word. 
"Kwan" _ means "glad," "gladness," "joy," etc. It covers 
the Indian idea, "my heart is good" or "glad-towards-you," 
"glad-for-you," etc. Used as English "glad" to cover same 
meanings in speaking Chinook. 

Examples: "Nika kwan spose mika chaco," "I (will be) 
glad if you come." "Hiyu kwan nika," "Much glad me." "Spose 
lolo okeoke t'zum sail copo mika klootchman yahka chaco delate 
kwan nika tumtum," "If you carry that calico to your woman 
she will be glad I think." (Literally: "If (you) carry that 
spotted-with-color-cloth to your woman she comes very glad 
I think.") 

AFRAID — FEAR. 
KWASS. 

A as in father; accent a-a and pronounce Kwass (as though 

spelled Qu-wass-s-s). 

"Kwass" means "afraid of," "timid," "fear," etc., and is 
used like English "afraid." 

Examples: "Kwass nika spose klatawa copo chuck," 
"Afraid I (am) if (we) go on the water." "Klatawa! Nika 
kuitan hiyu kwass pe halo klatawa copo, halo wawa hiyu," 
"Go away! My horse (is) much afraid and will not go by (you), 
(keep still, do) not talk loud (or shout), etc." 

FIVE. 
KWINUM. 

I as in win; u as in up; accent -kwin- and pronounce Kwin-um. 

"Kwinum" is the Chinook word for the numeral "five" and 
has no other meaning. Used the same as English "five" is 
used to indicate that number in any situation. 

Examples: "Nika potlatch kwinum dollah copo John," "I 
gave five dollars to John." "Kwinum kuitan nika tika," "Five 
horses I want." 

EAR — HEAR. 
KWOLAN. 

O as in oat; a as in man; accent -kwo- and pronounce Kwo-lan. 

"Kwolan" means the "ear" or "hearing," "to hear," etc. 

It covers the whole idea of "hearing" or "the ear" from any 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 47 

angle, and is used in Chinook as "ear" or "hear" is used in 
English. 

Examples: "Sick nika kwolan, klosh spose chaco ladoctin," 
"Sick my ear (is) good suppose comes (the) doctor." "Klosh 
kwolan!" "Listen!" "Siah kwolan-kuitan," "A mule (long-eared 
horse)." 

THEY — THEM — THEIR, ETC. 

KLASKA. 

A as in hat; a as in father; accent -klas- and pronounce Klass- 

kah. 

"Klaska" covers the idea of the third person plural of 
English and is usually used in the sense of "they who" or to 
mean "their" in talking Chinook. 

Examples: "Klaska chaco wake lalie," "They came a little 
while ago." "Mika wawa konaway klaska mamook kwolan," 
"You tell all (of) them (to) listen." "Klosh spose konaway 
chaco pe lolo konaway klaska ictas pe mitlite copo okeoke 
illahee," "Let them all come and bring all their things and stay 
(live) upon this land." (Literally, "Good if all come and bring 
all their things and live on this land.") 

WHO — WHOSE — WHICH. 
KLAXTAH. 

A as in hat; a as in father; accent -klax- and pronounce Klax- 
tah. 

"Klaxtah" covers the English interrogation "Who?" and 
fixes relative person as "the-man-who," or ownership as "the- 
man-whose-dog is," etc. It may also mean "which one." The 
most common use of it is in some form of inquiry using the 
word to mean "Who?", "Who is it?", etc. 

Examples: "Klaxtah okeoke?" "Who is that?" "Klaxtah 
mamook?" "Who did it?" Klaxtah mika tilacum?" "Who is 
your friend?" "Klaxtah man mamook poh?" "Which (one) 
fired the gun (shot)?" "Klaxtah man, Chim, nah Bill?" "Which 
man, Jim or (perhaps) Bill?" (Literally, "Which man, Jim? 
No? Bill?") 

HOW — WHY. 

KAHTAH. 

A as in father with h breath sound following in both syllables; 

accent -kah- and pronounce Kah-tah. 

"Kahtah" is used in asking all questions of "How?" or 
"Why?" just as the English words are used. The exact mean- 
ing of the word depends on the words used with it coupled 



48 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

with the time, place and conditions under which they are used. 
If you were to kick your dog and I asked you, "Kahtah mika 
mamook okeoke?" the meaning would be, "Why did you do 
that?" But if you were to do a trick, something I did not 
understand, then I ask the same question with the same words, 
"Kahtah mika mamook okeoke?" Then the "Kahtah" changes 
to "How" so that the sentence means, "How did you do that?" 
The word "Kahtah" is the word symbol for either the idea 
"how" or the separate idea "why," and the meaning is always 
determined by the subject in hand, the conditions surrounding 
the_ speaker and listener and the words used to follow "Kahtah." 
This holds good with very many Chinook words and is even 
more important in sentence-making when Chinook is spoken. 

LIKE — THE SAME AS — SIMILAR TO. 
KAHKWA. 

A as in father in both syllables; accent -kah- and pronounce 
Kahk-wah, with slightly trailing breath "h" sound at end. 

"Kahkwa" alone means "like" in a comparative sense, that 
is, "like unto," "the same as," etc. It is nearly always used 
with other word combinations as a prefix that fixes the idea 
of similarity in any two objects or groups of objects. Some- 
times it is used alone but not often. It covers the whole idea 
of similarity. 

Examples: "Kahkwa," "Alike (they are)." "Delate kahk- 
wa," "Exactly alike. "Mika kahkwa nika," "You are like me." 
"Kwonesum kahkwa," "Always alike." "Konaway kahkwa," 
"All alike (they are)." "Halo kahkwa," "Not alike, not the 
same, different from." (Literally: "No alike" "or "no the 
same.") "Kahkwa nika tumtum," "I think as you do." (Liter- 
ally: "The same (as yours) my thoughts are.") "Mox canim 
kahkwa," "Two canoes just alike." "Halo mamook kahkwa 
okeoke," "Do not do it that way." (Literally: "No-do the 
same-as-that") 

Sometimes "Kahkwa" is used in a qualifying way as in the 
last above sentence, but usually it is used as a qualifying prefix 
word as in the other examples above. 

"Kahkwa" is also used to determine a like quality as 
"Kahkwa chickamun," "Like metal." Semi-fluid could be 
explained by saying it was "like water" (Kahkwa chuck), or 
it could be called "Sitkum chuck" (half-water) and the idea 
would be understood. The physical, granulated character of 
sugar could be expressed by saying that it was "like sand" 
(Kahkwa polalie illahee) or that it was "like gun-powder" 
(Kahkwa calapeen polalie). A great range of understanding 
can be expressed thus by the use of "Kahkwa" in one combina- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 49 

tion or another to mean about what the Chinaman means when 
he says "Alle same." You cannot say "fly" (to fly) in Chinook 
but you can easily express the idea thus: "Mamook kahkwa 
kulakula." (Literally: "Moves-like-a-bird.") Or. again by 
"Klatawa kahkwa kulakula." (Literally: "Goes-like-a-bird.") 
"Kahkwa" covers the whole range of comparison, similarity, 
likeness, etc., and should be used to express all ideas dealing 
with these subjects. 

BEHIND — FOLLOWING— COME AFTER — REAR. 
KIMTAH. 

I as in him; a as in father; accent -kim- and pronounce Kim- 

tah. 

"Kimtah" covers the whole idea of "following" or "follow- 
ing after," "being the last one," "coming afterwards." It fixes 
place by meaning the nether or last end. the outside end, etc. 
It is used in a large variety of ways both as a prefix word and 
also as a following word to qualify the other words of the 
sentence. Its meaning depends on how and where it is used. 

Examples: "Kimtah sitkum sun nika chaco," "This after- 
noon I (will) come." "Konaway mika delate kimtah," "You 
are always very late (behind time)." "Nika klatawa elip spose 
mika chaco kimtah," "I (will) go in front (before) if you 
(will) come behind." "Mesika chaco kimtah," "(We will) come 
behind." ("We will follow you." "We will come later.") "Halo 
mika kimtah nika," "Do not get behind me." (Literally: "No 
you-behind-me (get).") 

CLEAR OF — FREE FROM — OPEN UP — TO GET 

AWAY FROM. 

KLAH. 

A as in father; kl together softly; the predominating sound in 

the word is -ah-; pronounce as written. 

"Klah" alone is a corruption of. and means the same as, the 
English "clear" in the sense that "The sky is clear," and also 
in the sense of "stand away from" or "keep clear of." Its 
meaning with other words is flexible enough to cover the 
whole idea of "free from," "get away from," "will get free 
from," etc. 

Examples: "Nika chaco klah," "You come free-from." 
(Get away from there so you won't interfere.) "Wake klah, 
tumtum snass," "(Is is) not clear, (it will) I think, rain (soon)." 
"Klosh nanage! Klah yahka stone!" "Look out! Keep clear 
of (them) the rocks!" (This would be used in running a rapid 
in a canoe, etc.) "Mamook klah okeoke illahee copo stick," 
"Clear that piece of timber ground." (Literally: "Make clear 
that ground of (the) timber (now on it).") "Klah okeoke 
chuck," "Clear that water (is)." 



50 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

HOW ARE YOU— GREETING. 

KLAHOWYA. 

A as in father; ow together as in how; a as in father but with 

a slightly flattened sound of u as in up to end the word; 

accent -how- and pronounce Kla-how-yah(uh). 

"Klahowya" is the Chinook greeting that covers the same 

idea as "How are you" in English. Its use is almost entirely 

limited to the above though in cases it is also used as an 

answer to a greeting and then means "I am well," "I am all 

right," etc. It is not often used this way, however. 

Examples: "Klahowya, tilacum!" "How are you, friend!" 
"Klosh!" "Good!" 

"Klahowya, tilacum!" "How are you, friend!" "Nika kla- 
howya," "I am well." ("I am all right.") The word "Six" is 
also frequently used with "Klahowya" instead of "Tilacum," 
and means "friend" just as "tilacum" does, only in a more 
limited way — that is, it lacks the various meanings of "Tilacum" 
and is limited to mean only "friend," hence its use very fre- 
quently with the salutation "Klahowya" instead of "Tilacum," 
thus: "Klahowya six." Klahowya" is also sometimes used to 
mean "goodbye" but not often. 

GO — TO GO — WENT — GONE — GOING — WILL GO. 

KLATAWA. 

A as in hat; a as in father; wa as in was; accent -klat- and pro- 
nounce Klat-ah-wah, with trailing breath sound of h to end 
the word. 

"Klatawa" alone means "go" (the action). It is used as a 
command and to designate the past, present and future of the 
act of going. Its meaning in spoken Chinook is governed by 
the words used with it, by the subject talked about and by the 
bearing of the surroundings on the subject, speaker and hearer. 
It covers the whole idea of "go," "went," "gone," and "will go," 
"may go," "could, would or should go," "can go," "must go," 
"shall go," "do go," "do not go," etc. Use it anywhere to mean 
the same as English "go" and it will be right. 

Examples: "Klatawa," "Go.' (Get out, go away.) "Kah 
mika klatawa?" "Where do you go?" "Konce mesika klatawa," 
"When we go." "Spose mika klatawa?" "Will you go?" "Nika 
klatawa delate ahncuttie," "I went a-long-time-ago." "Comtox 
klatawa?" "Do you understand the going?" (The way.) "Kona- 
way klatawa wake lalie," "All (everybody) going (will go) 
soon." "Klonas nika klatawa," "Perhaps (maybe) I (will) go." 
"Wake mika klatawa," "Do not go (you)." "Nowitka, nika 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 51 

klatawa," "Yes, I (will or can) go." "Halo nika klatawa," "I 
will not go." 

There is room for almost unlimited combinations with other 
words in Chinook where "Klatawa" can be used to mean "go" 
just as "mamook" means all other actions except "come." 

IF — PERHAPS — MAYBE — DOUBT OR DOUBTFUL — 
UNCERTAIN — MAY — POSSIBLY. 

KLONAS. 

as in home; a as in hat; accent -klo-, dwell slightly on 

nasal n and trail all three last letters n-a-s so that last 

half of the word "drags" in speaking and pronounce it 

Klo-n-n-a-s with a slight hissing sound to end. 

"Klonas" is the Chinook symbol of "doubt," "uncertainty," 
"possibility unknown." etc. It is almost the opposite of 
"Klosh" or "Delate" in its ability to cast doubt as against the 
ability of "Klosh" or "Delate" to affirm and add certainty to 
a subject. 

"Klonas" is always used as a prefix word to cast doubt 
on the subject under discussion and always implies uncer- 
tainty on the part of the speaker or asks the question "Do 
you know?" "Are you sure?" etc., of the listener. In speak- 
ing Chinook always use "Klonas" to mean doubt or uncer- 
tainty under any circumstances and it will be right. 

Examples: "Klonas nika chaco," "Perhaps I (will) come." 
"Klonas halo," "I think not (but I do not know)." "Klonas 
mika nanage nika kowmux?" "Have you seen (perhaps you 
have seen) my dog?" 

When spoken, "Klo-o-o-n-n-n-a-a-a-s," with a heavy shrug 
of the shoulders, it means "Who knows?" exactly as the Span- 
ish "Quien sabe?" expresses the same idea. "Klonas nowitka," 
"Perhaps — I think probably, but am not certain." "Klonas 
cultas okeoke," "Maybe it is bad. "Klonas klosh okeoke," 
"Maybe it is good," etc. The combination of words is almost 
unlimited so that "Klonas" introduces the element of doubt. 
"Klonas nika comtox klaxtah okeoke man," "Perhaps (possibly) 

1 understand (who) that man (is)." (I am not certain about it 
—I have doubts.) "Halo klonas," "No doubt." 

CRY — MOURN. 

KLY. 

Pronounce same as English spelling. 

"Kly" is the term used to mean "cry," "mourn," "weep," 
etc., in Chinook. It covers the whole idea of mourning or 



52 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

distress. Not very much used. It is a corruption of English 
"cry." 

Examples: "Nika bebe delate cly, yahka sick tumtum," 
"My baby cries a great deal, (he) it is sick." "Yahka klootch- 
man delate cly, yahka man chaco memaloose," "She (that) 
woman, cries (mourns) he (her) husband comes dead." 

GOOD — RIGHT — SAFE — BEST — SATISFACTORY. 
KLOSH. 

The common and most frequent meaning of "Klosh" is 
"good," "all right," "satisfactory," "acceptable," "well enough," 
"good as it is," etc. It covers the whole idea of good, right 
and satisfactory value and expresses all the various shaded 
meanings that are near or have to do with the same general 
idea. It is one of the most flexible and wide reaching words 
in Chinook and is used very frequently to convey largely 
separated meanings by using with it a great variety of other 
word combinations that modify, lessen or add to its indi- 
vidual meaning. 

Primarily it can be said to be the symbol word that 
stands for everything and anything that is good, right or 
satisfactory, but it can be used to mean over 45 different 
shaded meanings that have to do with or bear on its indi- 
vidual meaning. It becomes a negative force just as flexible 
when "no" or "not" is used to prefix it, therefore, its uses 
in conversation are almost unlimited and it soon "places 
itself" automatically when one begins to speak Chinook. 

Examples: "Okeoke klosh," "That (is) good." "Yahka man 
nika klosh tilacum," "That man (he is) my very good friend." 
"Klosh canim okeoke," "A good canoe that (is)." "Klosh 
muckamuck," "Good eating" (or "Good to eat"). "Klosh tum- 
tum nika copo mika," "I think well of you" (or "My heart is 
good toward you"). "Klosh kahkwa," "It is good that way" 
(or "Good like-that (it is).") "Klosh mika chaco," "Good you 
come." ("It would be well for you to come.") "Klosh nanage!" 
"Look out!" (Literally: "Good look!"— "Look well!"— "Be 
careful!" etc.) "Yahka delate klosh," "That is very fine." 
"Klosh esick," "A good paddle." "Nika klosh bebe," "My 
beautiful baby." "Klosh spose mika iskum," "It would be 
well to get (that)." ("Good if you get (it).) "Mika mamook 
klosh wawa," "You made a good talk." "Klosh klootchman 
okeoke," "(A) good woman that (one)." 

"Klosh-spose" is the word "klosh" combined with "spose" 
(a corruption of the English "suppose") and this form of 
"klosh" is used to suggest something to be done or to inquire 
if you approve of some suggested idea, thus: "Klosh-spose 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 53 

nika iskum okeoke pish," "(I think it would be) good (or 
well) if I get (some or that) fish," (and, by implied mean- 
ing, "Do you agree?")- "Klosh-spose nika mamook heehee 
copo mika bebe." The idea conveyed here would be equivalent 
to the English, "I think I had better play with your baby, 
don't you?" What is actually said — word for word — is this: 
"Good-if-I make play with you baby." There is much in such 
word arrangement that is left unsaid, yet the idea is expressed 
clearly to the understanding of those who speak Chinook well 
because a large majority of Chinook sentences are put to- 
gether on just such graphic lines — the implied meaning in 
many cases being as much or even more than the meaning 
conveyed by the words actually spoken. 

WOMAN — FEMALE. 
KLOOTCHMAN. 

Kl together; oo as in coo; tch together; a as in man;accent 

-klootch- and pronounce Kloo-tsch-man. 

The whole meaning of the word is "woman" when used 
alone and yet it always fixes female sex in any case where it 
is used as a prefix word. 

Examples: "Yahka nika klootchman," "(She) is my 
woman (wife)." "Okeoke nika tenas klootchman," "That is 
my little girl." "Yowah nika klootchman kuitan," "There is 
my mare (female horse)." 

Relationship on the mother's side is fixed by indicating 
the wife as "klootchman" or "nika klootchman" (my woman) 
and then adding "her sister," "her mother," "her brother," 
etc., thus: "Nika klootchman, yahka ow," "My woman, her 
brother" (thus, "my brother-in-law"). This construction is 
strictly Indian and is used many times in many ways by In- 
dians in talking Chinook — a great deal more so than among 
whites because it is the natural way of speech with Indians 
and it is the really correct usage in Chinook. Thus: "Nika 
klootchman, yahka oleman papa," translates into English as 
"My woman, her older father," and fixes the relationship to be 
"my wife's grandfather." Leave out "oleman" and use the 
same sentence and it fixes the meaning as "my wife's father." 

ALL BROKEN UP — BURSTED — TORN TO PIECES — 

DESTROYED — SHATTERED — SICK — WRECKED 

— DISORGANIZED. 

KOK-SHUT. 

O has almost the sound of long u or as -au- in caulk, yet not 
quite as broad as -aw- in English; u is short as in mutt; 
accent -kok- and pronounce Kauk-shut. 



54 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

The word alone means usually "all broken up." Its exact 
meaning depends, though, on how, when and under what con- 
ditions it is used. It can mean "I am sick," "I feel badly," 
"My family is disorganized," or any similar meaning as well 
as to mean that "I was badly hurt," "My canoe was shat- 
tered," "He lost all his belongings through wreck," or any 
like idea. It is a flexible word covering the idea of disorgan- 
ization, wreck, breakage, etc., and is used wherever this idea 
is to be conveyed. Nearly always the word "chaco" (comes) 
is used as a prefix meaning that a thing "comes" or "has 
come" (that is, gotten into) a disorganized state, wrecked, etc., 
or it "will come" so. 

Examples: "Nika delate kokshut," "I (am feeling) very 
badly (sick)." "Nika canim chaco kokshut," "My canoe (has) 
become a wreck." "Hyas kokshut yahka man (or okeoke 
man," "That man was badly hurt." "Konaway nika tilacum 
chaco kokshut," "All my friends come scattered." (Full mean- 
ing: "All-my-organization-of-friends-and-acquaintances have 
become-disorganized — scattered to other places," etc.) 

ALL — ENTIRE — FINISHED — TOTAL — EVERYONE. 

KONAWAY. 

O as in on; a as in fate; a as in fate; accent -kon- and pro- 
nounce Kon-a-way. 

"Konaway" alone means "all" and covers the idea of "en- 
tirely," "finished," "no more," "total," etc. Its exact meaning 
in any sentence depends on the words spoken with it and the 
influence of situation, surroundings and subject on the spoken 
words. It is safe to use it to cover any of the above out- 
lined ideas taken from any angle. "Wake" and "Halo" used 
as prefix words, make it mean "not all," "none," etc. 

Examples: "Konaway," "All." "Copo konaway," "All to- 
gether." (The whole company, the entire lot.) "Konaway 
man nanage," "All men see." "Mesika klatawa copo konaway 
sun," "We went (traveled) all day long." "Halo nika iskum 
konaway," "I (did) not get all (of the object)." "Konaway pish 
chaco kokshut," "All (of the) fish spoiled (became no good)." 
"Halo konaway ictas mika lolo," "Not all (of the) things 
(must) you carry." ("You must not carry all of the load — 
everything," etc.) "Wake konaway mesika chaco enati," "Do- 
not all-of-you come-across." "Spose mika tika konaway," 
"Do you want all (of it or all of these things?)." 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 55 

BOTH — TOGETHER WITH — BESIDE — ALONG WITH 
— JOIN — UNITED. 

KUNAMOX. 

U as in up; a as in father; o as in ox; accent -kun- and pro- 
nounce Kun-a-mox. 
"Kunamox" is usually used to mean "both" or "together 

with," but is flexible enough to cover the whole idea of 

"joined" or "united" as understood in English. 

Examples: "Nesika chaco kunamox tomalla," "Both of 
you come together tomorrow." "Halo chaco kunamox," "Do 
not come together." "Yahka kuitan mamook klosh spose 
kunamox," "Those (the) horses work good (if) they (are) 
together." "Klosh kahkwah, mamook kunamox," "(It is) good 
that way (like that), put them together." (Literally: "Good 
the-same-as, work-together.") 



HOW MANY — HOW MUCH — HOW IS — WHEN. 

KONCE. 

O as in on; ce together, sounded as see; accent -kon- and 
pronounce Kohn-seh, with -kon- accented and ce so 
shortened and low spoken that it sounds almost like 
seh, but not quite — make it about halfway between "see" 
and "seh" of English and it will be correct. 

"Konce" in Chinook is the equal of the English interroga- 
tion "How?" and of the time interrogation "When?" and is 
always used as a prefix word to give other words the ques- 
tion value as above. It is never used to mean "where" (Kah) 
but always to cover ideas dealing with "How?" or "When?" 
It also fixes "when" as a time element in the sense of "the- 
time-when" something occurred, etc. It is never used in any 
other way but to express one of the above three meanings, 
and its exact meaning is always brought out by the way it is 
used with the other words. 

Examples: "Konce chickamun?" "How much money?" 
"Konce siah?" "How far (is it)?" "Konce nika klatawa?" 
"When (do) I go?" "Konce okeoke?" "How (is) that?" "Konce 
mika chaco?" "When (will) you come?" "Konce nika nanage 
Chim nika wawa," "When I see Jim I (will) tell (him)." "Konce 
kowmux nika iskum?" "How many dogs have you (got)?" 



56 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

ALWAYS — TO BE CONTINUOUS — FOREVER — UN- 
CEASING. 

KWONESUM. 

O as in own; e as in see; u as in sum; accent -ne- and pro- 
nounce Kwo-nee-sum. 

"Kwonesum" is the word symbol of "always" or "everlast- 
ing" in Chinook and covers the whole idea of "continual," 
"without stopping," etc. It is always used as a prefix word 
to fix the idea of perpetuation, continuance, keeping at it, 
never stopping, etc. 

Examples: "Kwonesum chaco okeoke chuck," "Always 
conies that water (keeps-on-coming)." "Nowitka, kwonesum 
kahkwa," "Yes, (it is) always like that (that way)." "Kwone- 
sum sahale tyee," "(The) always up-above chief" (God). 
"Kwonesum nika klatawa pe klatawa," "Always you go and 
go." "Kwonesum nika tika okeoke," "Always I want that 
(have wanted that)." "Kwonesum halo muckamuck," "Al- 
ways not-eat (that)." (Never eat that — it is not to be eaten.) 
"Kwonesum nika halo nanage." (Literally: "Always I no- 
see." (I have never seen (it).) 



A MOUNTAIN — THE MOUNTAINS. 

LAMOUNT'N. 

A as in lay; o as in how; t'n as t ending in nasal n; accent 
-mount- and pronounce Lay-mount-n-n, shortening t and 
dwelling on n sound. 

"Lamount'n" is the word symbol for high or higher 
ground, a hill, a mountain, mountain chain, etc. As spoken it 
fixes place in a sentence and qualifies it by giving height, 
raising the land above the level. "Tenas" used as a prefix 
word makes it "little-high" and "Hyas" or "Hiyu" adds to the 
height. 

Examples: "Okeoke lamount'n," "That mountain (those 
mountains)." "Hyas lamount'n okeoke," "A big (or high) 
mountain that (is)." (Usually used to mean a snow covered 
peak, etc.) Other qualifying words are also used to designate 
which mountain, what kind of a mountain, or any other de- 
scriptive element that time, place and their bearing on the 
subject and speakers may demand to make the meaning 
clear. 



TH^ CHINOOK BOOK 57 

TIME — NEAR FUTURE — LATE PAST. 
LALIE. 

A as in lay; i as in hit; accent -la- and pronounce La-ly, the 
last syllable being exactly the same as ly in English lily 
in fact, the word "lalie" is exactly like English "lily" ex- 
cept that for "i" in "lily" substitute "a" as in "lay" — 
"laly." 

"Lalie" is a time measure in Chinook that is in a way 
interchangeable with the shortly spoken "Ahncuttie" to mean 
"lately," "time past recently," etc. "Lalie," however, does not 
have the same long-time value that "Ahncuttie" does in usual 
use though it can be "stretched" to even the same extent that 
"Ahncuttie" can. In ordinary common use "Lalie" is under- 
stood to be "not long" more than anything else, in other 
words, it can be considered as the short-time symbol word 
and should be so used. 

Examples: "Wake lalie nika chaco," "Not long (in a lit- 
tle while) I (will) come." "Elip lalie yahka mitlite yowah," 
"A little while before (that) he lived here." "Konce lalie mika 
mitlite okeoke illahee?" "How long has this been your home?" 
(Literally: "How-long you live-this-ground?") "Mesika klat- 
awa tenas wake lalie," "They went (away) just-a-little-while 
ago." ("They go (away) little not-long-(ago).") 

A PIPE. 
LAPEEP. 

A as in father; ee as in sheep; accent -peep- and pronounce 

Lah-peep. 

This word is French "La Pipe" incorporated into Chinook 
and general Chinook usage has shortened it to "Peep" so that 
now a pipe is nearly always spoken of as "Peep" (and not 
"Lapeep.") 

Examples: (Common use.) "Nika tika chinoos copo nika 
peep," "I want some tobacco for my pipe." 

AN OLD WOMAN. 
LUMMI. 
U as in up; i as in it; accent -lum- and pronounce Lum-my. 
This word is used in Chinook mostly in the northern part 
of Puget Sound and the islands to the north to mean "old 
woman." It is not in general use all over the territory where 
Chinook is spoken and can be classed as a local Chinook 
word. "Ole klootchman" means the same thing in general use 
where Chinook is spoken. 



58 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

MEDICINE. 

LAMESSIN. 

French "La medicine" incorporated into the Chinook to 
mean any drug, mixture, medicine or treatment for healing or 
curing sickness of any kind directly by application. About the 
English understanding of "drugs and medicines" and "treat- 
ment for sickness' combined. It does not, however, mean any 
of the magic or supernatural incantations or ceremonies of 
Indian origin and practice, including even those for healing 
the sick. These are all some form of "Tahmahnawis" and are 
never alluded to as "Medicine." "Medicine" (Lamessin) al- 
ways means drugs, mixtures or medicines proper used directly 
as our medicines are used. (See "Tahmahnawis.) Use as 
English "Medicine" is used in speaking. 

FOUR. 
LOKUT. 

O as in go; u as in up; accent -lo- and pronounce Loh-kut 
"Lokut" is Chinook for the numeral "four" and means 
this and nothing else. Higher numbers, 24, 34, 44, etc., are 
made by combinations of "two-times-ten and four" (Mox 
tatlum pe lokut). "Three-times-ten and four" (Klone tatlum 
pe lokut). "Four-times-ten and four" (Lokut tatlum pe lokut, 
and so on. "Lokut" however, always means "four" and no 
more. 

KILLIKINICK. 
(Uva ursi.) 

L'AHB. 

A as in father; pronounce Larb with L sound detached as in 

French usage. 

From the French L'herbe. This is the name given by the 
French Canadians to the plant known as Uva Ursi — bear berry 
— the leaves of which are dried and smoked, mixed with tobacco 
or by themselves. The Blackfoot Indian name for it is "Kahk- 
sin," which means "Brittle-made" because it breaks easily when 
dried. The Sioux Indians call it "Waupachalie Chashasha" (Tea 
tobacco). The West Coast Indians (Seattle neighborhood) 
call it "Chult'sh" (exact translation unknown). These leaves are 
smoked universally by savage tribes clear around the world 
north of the latitude of St. Louis. The common interchange- 
able Indian name is "Killikinick" or "Kinnikinick." The chopped 
up inner (green) bark of the red willow, dried and mixed with 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 59 

tobacco is also "Killikinick" and an Indian of the plains country- 
east of the Rockies is apt to have this to smoke, while the 
mountain or West Coast Indian is nearly sure to use the leaves 
of the Uva Ursi. "L'ahb" in Chinook always means the latter 
and "Killikinick" means the mixed uva ursi and tobacco, while 
tobacco alone is "Chinoos" in Chinook. 

AN AXE OR HATCHET. 
LAHASH. 

A as in father; a as in hat; accent -la- and pronounce Lah- 

hasch. 

French word used in Chinook to mean either axe or hatchet. 
In common use but mostly for "hatchet" as English "axe" is 
being used to displace it in this meaning. 

Examples: "Lolo nika lahash," "Bring me (the) axe." 
"Klosh spose iskum tenas lahsh," "Good if (you) get (the) little- 
axe." (Idea: "The hatchet would answer the purpose better.") 

PITCH — GLUE. 
LAGOOM. 

A as in father; oo as in coo; accent -la- and pronounce Lah- 

goom. 

French word incorporated into Chinook and means "pitch" 
from fir or pine trees, or "glue" in liquid form. Little used 
except in combination with "stick" (Lagoom-stick) to mean 
"Pitchwood," i. e., slivers of pitchy fir used to start fire with. 
Outside of this use it is scarcely ever heard any more. 

Example: "Iskum lagoom-stick pe mamook piah hyak," 
"Get some pitchwood and make a fire quick." 

A TRUNK OR BOX. 

LACASSET. 

A as in father; a as in hat; e as in bet; accent -la- and pro- 
nounce Lah-cass-set. 

From the French. In common use to mean a trunk, a 
handbag, chest or box of any kind. Also sometimes used to 
mean a basket or a package or bundle. The common use is 
to designate a box or a trunk. 

Examples: "Lolo okeoke lacasset copo mika house," 
"Carry that trunk to your house. "Nika klootchman mitlite 
konaway klosh ictas copo skookum lacasset," "My wife (wom- 
an) keeps all her fine things in a strong box." 



60 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

MOUTH. 
LABOOS. 

A as in father; oo as in coo; accent -la- and pronounce Lah- 

booce. 

The mouth — a river mouth. French word incorporated 
into Chinook and almost obsolete at this time. 

ROPE. 
LOPE. 

English "Rope" with "R" changed to Indian "L." 
Used in Chinook to mean a rope of any kind or size. Any- 
kind of a string or cord, thong or like article used as string 
or cord is "Tenas lope" (little rope). Any rope is 
"lope" and a "big rope" (hawser or cable) is "Hyas lope." 
Wire is "chickamun lope" (metal string or rope) and a chain 
is "skookum chickamun lope" (strong metal (iron) rope.) 
"Lope" covers the whole idea of a flexible rope, cord, thong, 
chain, wire, etc., used to tie anything with or to fasten anything 
with or to put to any use that rope, cord, etc., is used for. 

RUM — ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR. 
LUM. 

English "Rum" with Indian "L" sound. 

Not much used any more. Nearly all liquor now being 
called "fire water" (Piah chuck) or in late years "Hootch" 
or "Hootchinoo" (an Alaska word added to Chinook since the 
Klondike days). 

RIVER. 
LIBAH. 

Corrupted English "River" with English "R" changed to In- 
dian "L" sound and English "V" to Indian "B." 
Very little used in Chinook and then really only as "broken 

English. "Skookum chuck" is more often used to mean 

"River" in Chinook. 

ROUND. 
LOHULLOH. 

O as in oat; u as in hull; o as in hope; accent —hull- and 

pronounce Loh-hull-lowh. 

Chinook word for "round-like-a-ball" but now so nearly 
obsolete that few Chinook speakers ever use it at all. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 61 

BOIL — BOILING. 
LIPLIP. 

Pronounce as written. 

Chinook word meaning "boil," "boiling," "to boil," etc. 
Very little used any more. Used same as English words 
above. 

RICE. 

LICE. 

Corrupted English word "Rice" with "R" of English 
changed to Indian "L" sound. Use same as English "Rice." 

A BAG. 

LESACK. 

Original French "le sac." Used in Chinook to mean "bag," 
"sack," "pocket," "basin" (in the hills as at the head of a 
stream, or to mean a small, pocket-like bay in a lake). Not 
much used in any of its meanings any more, even by good 
Chinook speakers. 

SHEEP. 

LEMOOTOH. 

E as in eat; oo as in coo; o as in go; accent -moo- and pro- 
nounce "Lee-moo-toh." 

Originally from the French. Used in Chinook to mean 
"Sheep" but now almost obsolete. 

GROUSE. 
LEPOOL. 

E as in lee; oo as in coo; accent -pool- and pronounce Lee- 
pool. 

Originally from the French. Used in Chinook to mean 
"Grouse" primarily, but also with "Bos'n" as prefix to mean 
"Chicken," thus: "Lepool," "Grouse. "Bos'n lepool," "White- 
man grouse (chicken)." 

Examples: "Nika mamook poo lokut lepool," "I shot 
four grouse." "Nika mahkook tatlum Bos'n lepool copo nika 
klootchman," "1 bought ten chickens for my wife," 



62 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

HAND. 
LAMAH. 

A as in father (both syllables) ; accent -mah- and pronounce 

Lah-mah. 

From the French. Used in Chinook to mean "hand" 
primarily, but usage has extended the meaning to include all 
"the-fingers-on-the-hand" and even to include the "arm-of-the- 
hand." 

Examples: "Nika lamah chaco cole," "My hands are 
cold." "Konaway nika lamah kahkwa stick," "All my fingers 
are (stiff) like sticks." "Yahka man lolo yahka lamah copo 
sail," "He (that man) carries him (his) arm in (a) cloth 
(sling)." 

HEAD. 

LATAIT. 

A as in father; a as in fate; accent -tait- and pronounce Lah- 

tate. 

From the French "La tete," "the head." Chinook usage 
retains the French meaning and the word is used as English 
"head" is used. 

Examples: "Latait copo chuck." "Head of the river." 
"Iskum chappoh copo mika latait," "Get a hat for your head." 
(Put on your hat.) 

DOOR. 
LAPOTE. 

A as in father; o as in oat; accent -pote- and pronounce 

Lah-pote. 

The French "La Porte" incorporated into Chinook and 
used to mean "door," "doorway," "opening," etc. Means 
about the same as English "door." 

Examples: "Mamook klah okeoke lapote," "Make clear that 
door." "Ikpooie lapote," "Shut the door." "Chaco copo 
lapote," "Come in by the door." 

LUMBER. 
LAPLASH. 

A as in father; a as in hat; accent -plash- and pronounce 

Lah-plash. 

The French word "La planche" incorporated into Chinook 
and still used to mean any timber sawed into boards. Used 



THE CHINOOK BOOK $3 

in all ways as English "lumber," "boards," "plank," etc., is 
used. Using "Tenas" as a prefix word makes it "small," as 
"Tenas laplash," "Small (or thin) boards." "Hyas" makes it 
large, thus: "Hyas laplash," "Large boards," i. e., "heavy 
lumber," not squared into "sticks" — really heavy planking. 
Shingles are "little boards for the top (of the house)." (Tenas 
laplash copo sahale house.) "Skookum laplash," "Good, strong 
boards." "Mahsh laplash/' "Throw-away lumber," (or really 
"waste lumber," slabs, etc.). 

FOOT — FEET — FOOT TRA CK — LEG — PAW — WALK 
ON FOOT. 

LEPEE. 

E as in let; ee as in seed; accent -pee- and pronounce Leh- 

pee. 

This word is a corruption of the French "Lepied." 
Usually it is used to mean "the foot" of a man or an animal 
or "the-track-made-by-the-foot" of man or animal. It is, 
however, used to mean "the feet" of man, animal or a group 
of men or animals. By implied meaning (depending on words 
used with it and gesture to determine place) it also is under- 
stood to mean "foot-and-leg" or even "leg" or "legs" as the 
case may demand. Its common use, however, makes it usual- 
ly mean either "foot" or "track." 

Examples: "Okeoke lepee copo mowitch," "That is a 
deer track." "Hiyu sick chaco nika leepee," "Very sore comes 
my foot." (My foot is very sore.) "Wake chaco copo canim, 
chaco copo lepee," "Do not come in (your) canoe, come on foot 
(walk)." 

CARRY — FETCH — BRING ALONG — PACK ON BACK. 

LOLO. 

O as in low, both syllables; accent first -lo- and pronounce 

Loh-loh, giving a slight breath sound of h at end of each 

syllable. 

"Lolo" means to carry anything, to "take it there," "bring 
it here," "bring it along," etc. It is commonly used to cover 
the act of carrying loads by hand for short distances but it is 
flexible enough so that it can be used to mean the act-of- 
carrying anything anywhere, either by hand, pack horse, ma- 
chinery or other agency. 

Examples: "Lolo okeoke copo nika," "Bring that to me." 
"Lolo mika ictas copo nika canim," "Carry your things to my 
canoe." "Mesika lolo ictas copo kuitan," "We (will) pack (or 



64 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

carry) the things on a horse." "Lolo hyas stick sahale copo 
piah chickchick," "Raise the big timber with the engine." 
(Literally: "Carry big timber up with the-thing-with-wheels- 
that-runs-by-fire.") 

TO TRADE — BUY OR SELL — A TRADE OF ANY 
KIND — TO EXCHANGE. 

MAHKOOK. 

A as in father; oo as in look; accent -kook- and pronounce 

Mah-kook. 

"Mahkook" primarily means "to trade" but the word is 
very flexible and is made to cover the whole idea of trading, 
exchanging, buying, selling, bargaining and carrying on all 
acts that have to do with trade matters or articles or places- 
of-trade. The word covers about the English idea of "mar- 
ket" if you add to "market" the ideas of "market goods," 
"market place," "marketing" and everything else you can 
think of pertaining to or associated with the "market." To 
bring out the full meaning such other prefix or following 
words as may be necessary are used with "mahkook" so that 
the idea of "trade" is associated with the other subject in 
hand. 

Examples: "Mika mahkook nika canim?" "(Will) you sell 
your canoe?" "Konce chickamun spose nika mahkook?" 
"How much money (do you want) if I buy it?" "Wake mika 
tika mamook," "I do not want to sell." "Kah yahka mahkook 
house?" "Where is the store?" (Literally: "Where is the 
place-where-they-buy-and-sell-things-house?") "Nika mahkook 
kuitan?" "(Will) you trade horses?" 

WICKED — VILE — SINFUL — DISSOLUTE — VICE — 
ROTTENNESS — OBSCENE — DEPRAVED — VICIOUS. 

MESAHCHE. 

E as in me; a as in ah; e as in me; accent -sah- and pro- 
nounce Mee-sah-t'chee, with slight, cut-off sound of t 
before c in last syllable, as indicated. 

"Mesahche" is used in Chinook to indicate anything worse 
than "Cultas" (bad). It conveys the idea of dirty vile-ness, 
vice, rottenness, etc. It is probably more often used to de- 
scribe things as being obscene, depraved, etc., than in any 
other sense, though it covers the whole catalogue of things or 
conditions that are "worse than the worst," "rotten to the 
core," and all like ideas where the term "bad" does not reach 
far enough. It also means dangerous or "danger-from" vile 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 55 

things. The words used before or after it qualify its mean- 
ing or it is used to couple the vile meaning with the ordinary 
meaning of an}'- other word. 

Examples: "Delate mesahche man," "A very wicked man." 
(Wickedness understood to mean "the limit of human de- 
pravity" from all angles.) "Mesahche klootchman," "A har- 
lot." "Piah chuck, yahka delate mesahche, mamook mika 
pelton," "Firewater (that is) very dangerous, it makes you 
crazy." "Wake mika tika — delate mesahche," "Not you want; 
very rotten (vile, wicked, etc.) (that is)." (Idea: Keep away! 
Do not touch that! It is rotten, harmful, dangerous.) 

LIVE — DWELL — STAY — HOME — PLACE-WHERE- 
YOU-LIVE. 
MITLITE. 
I as in it; i as in light; accent -mit- and pronounce Mitt- 
light. 

Primarily "Mitlite" means "live" but is used to cover 
"home," "stay," "dwell" "stop at," "stationary," "fixed," "fas- 
tened to," etc. It is the symbol of the idea of "permanency" 
as understood in English. It means "home" in the sense of 
a fixed place of abode. It is also used to indicate "stop" or 
"stopping place" in the sense that to stop is to stay or not 
to move away further. To "mitlite" is to stay or stop, to re- 
main fixed, not move, stationary, etc. 

Examples: "Yowah kah nika mitlite," "There is where I 
live (my home)." "Yahka mowitch mitlite copo stick," "He 
(the) deer lives in the timber." "Mesika mitlite yowah mox 
sun," "We stayed there two days." "Mitlite!" "Stop!" "Yahka 
clam mitlite copo pollalie illahee copo saltchuck," "He (the) 
clam, lives in the sand in the salt water." "Klosh spose mit- 
lite yowah," "Good (it will be) if (we) stop here." "Siah 
copo sahale copo yahka lemount'n yowah ict man mitlite copo 
stone," "Far-away-up in him (the) mountain, there one man 
lives in stones." (Idea: "There is the face of a man on the 
rocks away up in the mountains.") 

FOOD — ANYTHING EATABLE — TO EAT. 

MUCKAMUCK. 

U as in up; a as in fate; u as in up; accent first syllable and 

pronounce Muck-a-muck. 

"Muckamuck" covers the whole idea of "eat," "to eat," 
"food," "eating," "eatables," or any and everything connected 
with food or eating except "hungry" which has its own word, 
"olo." 

Examples: "Nika tika muckamuck," "I want (something 



66 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

to) eat." "Klosh muckamuck okeoke," "Good eating that (is)." 
"Halo muckamuck mika," "Do not (that) eat (you)." "Yahka 
kowmux muckamuck konaway mowitch," "He (that) dog, ate 
all (the) deer (meat)." "Okeoke pish delate klosh mucka- 
muck," "That fish (is) very good (to) eat." "Konaway tila- 
cums! Chaco copo nika house pe delate, heehee! Hiyu tanze, 
hiyu t'sing, hiyu muckamuck ictas, pe muckamuck chuck — delate 
klosh heehee! Chaco konaway!" "All friends! Come to my 
house and have a^ good time! Plenty dance, plenty sing, 
plenty to eat and drink! Very good fun (we will have)! Come 
all." 

YOU — YOUR. 

MIKA. 

I as in ice; a as in father; accent-mi- and pronounce Mye-kah. 
"Mika" is singular and "Mesika" is plural for "you" or 
"yours," yet both words are used for "your" and for "yours" 
while "Mika" alone is used to mean "you," "you alone." (See 
"Mesika.") 

"Mika" is used mostly always to mean "you" or "your" 
and only occasionally to mean "yours." 

Examples: "Mika chaco copo nika house," "You come to 
my house." "Okeoke mika kuitan — nah?" "That (is) your horse 
— no?" "Nika wawa konaway yahka canim mitlite copo mika 
pe yahka wawa halo — spose mika?" "I said all him (these) 
canoes belong (to) you — and he says no — are they yours?" 
"Klosh kahkwa mika wawa," "(It is) good like you say." "Mika 
nanage nika kuitan copo mika?" "Did you see my horses with 
yours?" 

YOURS. 
MESIKA. 
E as in me; i as in ice; a as in father; accent -si- and pro- 
nounce Mee-sye-kah. 

"Mesika" is the Chinook for "your," "yours," plural of 
"you" (you two). It is usually used to denote ownership in 
things, goods, chattels, etc. In another sense it means a col- 
lective group of people, or crowd, associated with "you." 

Examples: "Okeoke mesika ictas?" "(Are) those things 
yours?" "Kah mesika klatawa?" "Where (are) you (both of 
you) going (together) ?" "Konaway tilacum mesika, nah?" 
"(Are) all these people yours?" (The meaning here would be 
more, "Are all these your people," — "Are they relatives," — "Do 
they belong to your family," — or, "do they belong to the same 
clan, clique, order or fraternity that you belong to?") It 
comes as near as possible to being second person plural, yet 
sometimes it is "stretched" to mean something _ more than 
this just as nearly every Chinook word sometimes is. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 67 

DEAD. 
MEMALOOSE. 

E as in men; a as in father; oo as in coo; accent -mem- and 
pronounce Mem-a-loo-ss, ending with a slight, short, hiss- 
ing sound. 

This word taken alone means "dead," but is used with 
combinations of other words to mean "destroyed," "wiped 
out," "done away with," "to rot," "decay," "die," etc. In 
short, it covers the whole idea of death and destruction of a 
final, finished, ended character. In use the word "chaco" 
(come) is nearly always used with it as a prefix — that is, a 
thing is not just "dead" but "comes dead" and when he "dies" 
he also "comes dead." When the word "memaloose" is used 
with"mamook" as a prefix, it means "make" or "made" dead — 
that is, killed, destroyed, etc. 

Examples: "Nika ow chaco memaloose," "My brother 
comes dead," (literally, "dies"). "Yahka man mamook mema- 
loose nika ow," "He (that) man made dead (killed) my 
brother." "Ahncuttie man konaway memaloose," "Old-time 
people all (are) dead." 

DO — TO DO — WILL DO — HAVE DONE. 
MAMOOK. 

A as in man, oo as in coo; accent -mam- and pronounce 

Mam-mook. 

This is the one great ACTION word of Chinook. In 
fact, any act, anything you do, except go or come, n always 
"mamook" in Chinook. It signifies motion or action, past 
action or future action or anything involving action. Any work, 
deed, exercise, motion, operation, service, performance or 
other thing having motion or action as a part of or con- 
nected in any way with it is always identified by the word 
"mamook" used in such a way that the action in connection 
with the thing, place, time, subject or object is clearly brought 
out. All questions concerning all actions use "mamook" to 
identify the action and all answers, statements or assertions 
concerning or dealing with any action always use "mamook" 
to identify the motion or act of action, and this idea is never 
changed or deviated from. If you row a boat, shoot a deer, 
run a race, pay a debt, look at things, sing, mourn, ride, eat, 
sleep, swim, travel, or do any other thing requiring motion 
or action, you must, in telling of or talking about or ordering 
it done, always use the word "mamook" in the sentence. Just 
how and where you use it depends on the sentence and the 



68 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

time and object, but it should be used to take the place of 
"may," "can," or "must," "could," "would," or "should," "will" 
or "shall," "am," "am not," "may," "can," "must," "could," 
"would," "should," "will" or "shall not DO" this, that or the 
other thing now or at some future time, or when you have 
done or did do anything in the past. I, you or they also 
"mamook" as above whenever they DO, will do or have done 
anything where motion has anything to do with it. Just re- 
member it means MOTION or ACTION of any kind and 
that it is the only word covering the whole idea of action and 
motion (except the two actions — "go" and "come" — which 
each are covered by their own words, "klatawa" and "chaco") 
and then use "mamook" to signify the action and you have its 
place in Chinook. It is even very frequently used as a prefix 
for "chaco" (come) and for "klatawa" (go) in which case it 
compels action for it means "make come" or "make go." So 
it can be used as the one and only ACTION word in Chi- 
nook. 

Examples: "Nika mamook," "I work." "Okeoke man 
mamook memaloose ict mowitch," "That man killed one deer." 
"Mamook canim," "Paddle the canoe." "Konce mamook 
stick?" "When (do you) cut wood?" "Okeoke illahee halo 
mamook klatawa," "That ground never moves (or will not 
move)." "Halo mamook," "No movement — it does not move" 
— ("not moving — not working — will not work," etc.) "Klosh 
mamook okeoke," "Good work that." "Alki mamook," "(Will) 
work (move or do) by and bye." 

Almost any combination of words can be used so that 
"mamook" denotes the action and the idea will be correct as 
far as expression is concerned, though the beginner may in 
speaking get the word "mamook" placed wrong in a sentence, 
yet the hearer would instantly recognize the idea of motion 
no matter how the word was placed and would be able to 
properly associate the motion idea with the subject in his 
own mind and thus understand what was meant. 

THROW AWAY — GET RID OF. 
MAHSH. 

A as in father; sound last syllable with slurred, hissing sound 
more as if it were -sch-; this sound is almost the slightly 
prolonged "sh-h-h!" frequently used by mothers to quiet 
babies, yet it is a slightly shorter sound than that; accent 
-mah- and pronounce Mah-sch-h. 

Alone the word means "throw away" or "put it away from 
you forcibly." It has also the broader meaning of "to get 
rid of," "go away from," "destroy," "part with," "to inten- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK (# 

tionally lose," or any like idea when used with other words 
and the use of the word "mamook" as a prefix enforces the 
idea or makes a command as (example) "Mamook mahsh 
okeoke." Literally: "(You) make throw-that-away," which 
translates into English as "Throw it away!" "Get rid of it!" 
"Drop it!" or any similar idea depending on the situation. 
"Nika mahsh okeoke," "I threw it away — I got rid of it — I 
will throw it away or get rid of it." "Nika mahsh okeoke 
man," "I lost that man (intentionally)" or "I sent that man 
away." It is a flexible word capable of covering the whole 
idea of "to put away from you" or "get away from me," but 
its usual use is to cover "throw away," "get rid of," etc. 

OFF SHORE. 
MAHTLINNIE. 

A as in father; i as in fin (both syllables); accent -maht- and 

pronounce Maht-lin-ny. 

Means "Away-from-the-land," "seaward," "off shore," etc. 
Not much used except along the sea coast and then mostly to 
designate place thus: "Kah mika mamook pish?" "Where will 
you fish?" "Mahtlinnie," "Off shore" (out in deep water, 
away from land). It is the opposite of "Mahtwillie," ("in- 
shore") and is so used. 

INSHORE. 

MAHTWILLIE. 

A as in father; i as in willie; accent -mah- and pronounce 

Maht-will-ly. 

Means "In-toward-the-land," "alongshore," "near the 
coast," etc. Used mostly along the coast to designate posi- 
tion thus: "Kah mika mamook pish?" "Where will you fish?" 
"Mahtmillie," "Inshore" (near the land in shallow water). 
Opposite of the word, "Mahtlinnie," ("off shore") and is so 
used. 

MARRY. 

MAHLEH. 

A as in father; i as in willie; accent -mah- and pronounce 

Mah-leyh. 

Corruption of English "Marry." Pronounce it "Mahley-h" 
with a slight h breath sound at end, really Indian-English 
"marry." Means the same as English "marry," "married," 
"will marry," "may marry," "did marry" or any like idea. 
The whole idea of matrimony is covered by the word, using 
prefix or follow-up words to bring out the exact meaning. 



70 The Chinook book 

Examples: "Wake lalie nika chaco mahleh," "Not long I 
come married" (will marry before long)." "Spose mesika chaco 
mahleh," "Suppose we come (become) married." "Yahka nika 
mahleh ow," "He (that man) is my married brother." "Nika 
tika mika tenas klootchman chaco mahleh," "I want your daugh- 
ter (to) (be) come married." (I want to marry your daughter.) 
"Konce lalie mika chaco mahleh?" "How long have you come 
(been) married?" 

MOTHER. 
MAMA. 

The English word used as Chinook and means "Mother" 
the same as English — used the same way. 

DOWN STREAM. 

MIMIE. 

I as in him (both syllables); accent -min- and pronounce 

Mim-my. 

Means down stream or "to travel downstream." So little 
used as to be practically obsolete. 

STANDING UPRIGHT. 

MITWHIT. 

I as in sit (both syllables) ; accent -mit- and pronounce 

Mit-whit. 

Means "standing-straight-up" but is so little used as to 
be practically obsolete. 

Example: "Mitwhit stick," "Standing timber." 

TWO. 

MOX. 

O as in ox; pronounce Mocks. 

"Mox" is Chinook for "two," the numeral. It never 
means anything else and is used just as English "two" is used 
to count, or denotes numbers. 

Examples: "Mox man chaco yowah," "Two men (are) 
coming there. "Lolo mox lacasset lapome," "Bring two boxes 
(of) apples." 

MILL. 

MOOLAH. 

Oo as in coo; a as in father; accent -moo- and pronounce 

Moo-lah. 

From the French, meaning "mill," any kind of a mill. So 
little used now as to be practically obsolete. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 71 

MOON. 
MOON. 

Same as English, used same way, means the same. Also 
means "one month" and is used in this sense as a measure 
of time. 

Examples: "Klone moon mesika klatawa," "Three months 
we traveled." "Konce chaco chee moon?" "When comes (the) 
new moon?" "Klosh moon," "Full (or good) moon." "Ole 
moon," "Last quarter of the moon (old moon)." "Sitkum 
moon," "Half moon." 

ELK— CATTLE. 
MOOSMOOS. 

Oo as in coo; accent first "moos" and pronounce as though 

spelled Mooz-mooz. 

Means "cattle" or "elk," depending on how it is used. 
Sometimes "Lemolo ("wild") is used as a prefix (Lemolo 
moos-moos) to mean "Elk" to distinguish from cattle where 
no gesture can fix the difference in meaning. 

Examples: "Klatawa pe iskum moosmoos, nika tika 
moosmoos chuck," "Go and get the cows, I want (to) milk." 
"Konce chickamun nika tika copo okeoke moosmoos?" "How 
much money do you want for that cow?" "Siah sahale copo 
lamount'n nika mamook-poo mox moosmoos pe lolo yowah 
konaway itlwillie," "Far up in (the) mountains, I shot two elk 
and carried (brought) here all the flesh." 

SLEEP. 
MOOSUM. 

Oo as in coo; u as in up; accent-moo- and pronounce Moo- 
sum. 
Means "sleep," "to sleep," "sleeping," etc. Covers the 

whole idea of "slumber" as understood in English. 

Example: "Kah nika moosum?" "Where (shall) I sleep?" 
"Delate cole, halo nika moosum," "Very cold (it is) no I 
sleep." "Nika delate olo-moosum," "I am very sleepy." (Liter- 
ally, "hungry-for-sleep" or "sleep-hungry.") "Moosum kahkwa 
whimstick," "Sleep like-a-log (on-the-ground)." 



72 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

DEER. 
MOWITCH. 

Ow together as in how; i as in hitch; accent -mow- and pro- 
nounce Mow-witsch. 

Means primarily "Deer" and is mostly used in this sense. 
Occasionally, however, it is used to mean "deer-like" in the 
sense that some grass-eating animal, unknown, is called 
"Mowitch" for want of a better name simply because it re- 
sembles a deer somewhat. This use is very infrequent and 
"mowitch" is almost always "deer." 

Examples: "Mowitch muckamuck," (Either) "Deer-feed" 
or "Deer-to-eat" (venison). "Nanage yahka mowitch yowah?" 
"See him (that) deer there?" "Hiyu mowitch mesika iskum; 
klosh muckamuck!" "Many deer we got; good eating!" (Idea: 
"We killed a lot of deer, now we will have a feast.") 

MAN — MALE ANIMAL — MALE SEX. 

MAN. 

Same as English. 

"Man" is used in Chinook to fix male sex in anything. 
It is used to mean "man" as it is in English and also as a 
prefix word to fix male sex in any object under discussion. 

Examples: "Okeoke nika man," "That (is) my husband" 
(man). "let man," "A man (one man)." "Kahkwa man," "Like a 
man." "Cultas man," "A bad man (worthless man)." "Skook- 
um man," "A big strong man." "Yahka man-kuitan," "(He) a 
male horse." "Hyas ole-man," "Very old" or "Veryold-man- 
like." "Tatlum man chaco," "Ten men came." 

HELLO — LOOK HERE! — HEY! — HOH! 
NAH! 

A as in father; h sound held more or less; accent -ah- and 

pronounce as exclamation, NAH! 

"Nah!" is almost always used as an exclamation to at- 
tract attention, to call to, etc., as you would say in English, 
"Say!" "Over there!" "You!" etc. Nearly always it is used as 
"Say, friend!" ("Nah, six!" or "Nah, tilacum!") It is also 
frequently used as an interrogation seeking confirmation of 
something already said just as many West Coast people say, 
"You are not going — no?" ("Halo mika klatawa — nah?") or 
"You will come— no?" ("Mika chaco— nah?") "Nah?" in Chi- 
nook is used just the same way and thus sometimes is a negative 
question. Ordinarily "Halo" means "No," but "Halo" is never 
used in the above sense, as an interrogation. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 73 

LOOK — SEE — LOOK HERE — LOOK THERE — BE- 
HOLD — OBSERVE— LOOK FOR — SIGHT — VISION. 

NANAGE. 

A as in Anne; a as in age; e sound so slight as to be nearly 
silent; accent -nan- and pronounce Nan-age. 

"Nanage" in Chinook covers the whole idea of "look;" "to 
look," "will look," "did look," "see," "saw," "will see," "can 
see," "may see," "must see," etc. The words used with it, 
coupled with the situation, surroundings, subject, speaker and 
hearer all go together to fix the exact meaning. It is usually 
used to cover "sight" and all things connected-with-sight or 
vision except "eyes" (seeowist) and should be used accord- 
ingly. 

Examples: "Klosh nanage!" "Look out! (Watch close)!" 
"Kah mika nanage?" "Where (did) you see (it)?" "Halo 
nanage," "(I have) no seen. "Wake lalie nika nanage," "I 
saw (it, him, etc.) not long ago." "Nanage yowah!" "Look 
there!" "Klosh nanage konce mika klatawa," "Look out when 
you go along," ("Keep close watch-out as you travel.") 
"Klosh nika nanage," "Good I (will) look (out for it)." 

NAME. 
NEM. 
E as in them; pronounce as written. 

Corruption of English "name" and used as English "name" 
is used. 

Examples: "Icta mika nem?" "What is your name?" 
"Yahka man nem Charlie," "He (that man) name (whose name 
is) Charlie." "Icta nem nika wawa?" "What name (shall I) 



I-ME- MY — MINE. 
NIKA. 

I as in ice; a as in father; accent -ni- and pronounce Nye-kah. 
"Nika" is the personal pronoun "I" or "me," "mine," or 
"my." It also means "belongs-to-me," "that-is-mine," "that- 
is-my," etc., depending on the words used with it. All such 
meanings are always by inference rather than from word 
combinations direct and this peculiarity runs all through Chi- 
nook. It is more noticeable in words like "nika," "mika," etc., 
than anywhere else though unspoken meaning clearly defined 
by word combination plus surroundings is present in almost 



74 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

every Chinook sentence and in those using the pronouns es- 
pecially. 

Examples: "Nika nanage," "I see." "Nika kowmux," 
"My dog." "Lolo copo nika," "Bring (it) to me." "Okeoke 
mitlite copo nika," "That is mine." (It stays with me.) 
"Konaway okeoke ictas chaco copo nika," "All those things 
come to me," (are my belongings). "Okeoke nika," "That (is) 
mine." "Okeoke nika kuitan," "That is my horse." 

WE — US — OURS. 

NESIKA. 

E as in me; i as in ice; a as in father; accent -si- and pro- 
nounce Nee-sye-kah. 

"Nesika" is the plural of "Nika" and means "we," "us," 
"our," "ours," "that-is-ours," "that belongs-to-us," "we-are- 
part-of," etc. Its exact meaning depends (like many Chinook 
words) on surroundings, subject, speaker, etc., but it is al- 
ways clear. Sometimes the unspoken words, by inference, 
bring the idea out clearly. 

Examples: "Nesika klatawa," "We go." "Okeoke nesika 
canim," "That (is) our canoe." "Chaco copo nesika," "Come 
with us." "Konaway yahka kuitan mitlite nesika," "All him (the 
horses) he belongs-to us (all of these horses are ours)." "Nesika 
whale totem," "We are of (or belong to) the totem of the 
whale." (Literally: "We are members of the clan having the 
whale for its totem — therefore, all blood relatives to everyone 
else who belongs to the same totem, which is the family crest 
of this one family of blood relatives.") 

NOTE. — The above is an instance of unspoken meaning 
for "Nesika whale totem" as a spoken sentence carries to the 
informed, all the above information by inference hinging on 
the fact spoken of, namely, "We (belong to the) whale totem" 
or (idea) "We are whale people," and all "whale people" have 
the same totem (the whale) which is the visible sign of blood 
relationship — thus members of the whale totem never marry 
other members of the same totem but always mate with mem- 
bers of some other totem clan — or blood-family. 

YES. 

NOWITKA. 

Nasal n; ow together; i as in it; a as in father; accent -wit- and 

pronounce Now-witt-kah. 

The word used to denote agreement-with or confirmation-of 
and to affirm; the common "Yes" as used in English has the 
same meaning and uses. 

Like all Chinook words "Nowitka" expresses many dif- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 75 

ferent forms of the idea of "agreement-with," "yes," etc. Prefix 
words change its positive meaning to one of affirmative doubt 
or to more positive "yes," etc. 

Examples: "Nowitka," "Yes." "Klonas nowitka," "I think 
so (but am not sure)." "Delate nowitka," "Positively yes (a- 
great-deal-yes)." "Halo nowitka," "No-yes (undecided)." "Turn- 
turn nowitka," "I think so" or "I agree with you." 

Many shaded meanings can thus be given to nearly all 
Chinook words and these meanings will be clearly under- 
stood. Just how many meanings any word can have depends 
largely on the speaker and his knowledge of Chinook coupled 
with his knowledge of Indian viewpoints, plus his own ability 
to coin word-combination idea-symbols in actually speaking 
Chinook. A marvelously few words will thus convey many 
different meanings. 

BERRIES. 

OLLALIE. 

O as in oat; a as in hat; -lie- same sound as -ly- in lily; accent 

-O- and pronounce Oh-lall-ly. 

"Ollalie" means any small berries or berry-like fruit. It is 
used more to mean small-berries than anything else. Usually 
the English name is used as a prefix thus "Straw-ollalies," "Sal- 
mon-ollalies," etc. Very often it is left off and a Chinook pre- 
fix descriptive word used thus: "Shot-ollalies," "Huckleber- 
ries." ("Shot-berries or like-shot berries.") "Pil-ollalies," 
"Cranberries." ("Red berries.") "Chuck copo ollalies," "Water- 
of-berries." (Berry juice.) "Sallal-ollalies," "Sallal-berries." 
"Ollalies" always means the "berries" themselves and the other 
words qualify this to give exact meaning. 

THAT — THIS. 
OKEOKE. 

O as in over in both syllables; accent last syllable and pro- 
nounce as though spelled O-koh-ke, with explosive, short 
accent on the -koh- as though you said, "O, coke!" in English. 
The word is objective and its meaning in use is usually 
determined by gesture pointing out the object spoken of as 
the word is spoken and locating it as "over there" or "here" 
nearby as the case may demand. Thus it means either "that" 
or "this" as needed. 

"Okeoke," "That thing," "This thing." This is one of the 
most frequently used words of Chinook and the twists and turns 
of meanings that are given it by different speakers are very num- 
erous. Perhaps there is no other word in Chinook outside of 



76 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

"mamook" that can be used in so many ways as "okeoke" can. 
It implies meaning in so many ways when handled by a good 
Chinook speaker and therein lies its value to the jargon. 

Examples: "Icta okeoke?" "What is that?" "Klaxtah 
okeoke?" "Who_ is that?" (Using the same words and at the 
same time pointing to a pile of goods makes the meaning thus: 
"Klaxtah okeoke?" "Whose (goods are) those?" "Okeoke kull," 
"That (is) hard." "Lolo okeoke copo okeoke man," "Carry this 
to that man." "Wake okeoke; okeoke!" "Not that; this!" (Ges- 
ture indicating articles would separate these two ideas.) "Halo 
mika tika okeoke," (No you want that.) "You do not want that." 
"Cultas okeoke," "That is bad." (Bad that.) 



OLD. 
OLEMAN. 

Corruption of English "Old man" means "old," "worn out," 
"decrepit," "useless," "discarded," "waste," etc. 

It covers the whole idea of "useless," "worn out," etc. 
Anything incorporating the idea of "old" can be called "oleman" 
in Chinook and be understood. 

Examples: "Yahka man hiyu oleman," "He (that man) is 
very old." "Hiyu oleman canim," "A very old canoe." 
"Kwonesum kahkwa oleman," "Always like (an) old man." 
"Mahsh okeoke lacasset, delate oleman," "Throw away that 
trunk, it is worn out." "Nika oleman-papa," "My old-man- 
father." (Grandfather.) "Oleman house," "Old house." "Yahka 
oleman sail," "That is an old sail" (and by inference, "It is 
worn out — can't be depended on — watch it as it may go to 
pieces in a wind.") 



ROAD — TRAIL — PATH — STREET. 
OIEHUT. 

Oie has the sound of "oy" or "way" and yet it is not either of 
these but more like the Yiddish "Oie;" u as in hut; accent 
-oie- and pronounce Oie-hut, or perhaps slightly Wh-oie- 
hut. It is almost impossible to put the sound into English 
but Oie-hut is very near it at least. 

"Oiehut" in Chinook usually means "trail" or "path," but 
usage and contact with whites has extended the meaning to 
cover also "road," "street" and even "railroad," which becomes 
"iron road" (chickamun oiehut) so the word now covers the 
idea of any open way used for vehicle or foot travel. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 77 

HUNGRY. 
OLO. 

O as in old (both); pronounce as written, with accent on first 

"o" and last syllable softly spoken, Oh-low. 

"Olo" means "hungry." It is used in the same sense as 
"hungry" in English and when used with "chuck" as a follow- 
ing word transforms "hunger" into "thirst" or really "water- 
hunger." 

Examples: "Nika delate olo," "I am very hungry." "Nika 
delate olo-chuck," "I am very thirsty." "Nika olo, klosh spose 
muckamuck," "I am hungry, good-if we eat." "Delate nika 
mamook — olo nika kahkwa lemolo kowmux," "Very much I have 
worked — hungry I am like a wild-dog." (Idea: "I have worked 
so hard I'm hungry as a wolf.") 

REAR — END — STERN — TAIL. 
OPOOTS. 

O as in oat; oo as in coo; accent -poots- and pronounce 
Oh-poo-ts-s, with hissing s sound at end, slightly held. 
"Opoots" means "rear," "stern," "tail," "posterior,' 'etc. 
Examples: "Nika kuitan iskum siah opoots," "(He) that 

horse gets (has) a long tail." "Humm-opoots," "Skunk." 

(Literally: "Stinking tail.") "Mamook copo canim opoots," 

"Put (it) in the rear end (stern) of the canoe." 

BROTHER. 
OW. 

Pronounce as written (same as "how" without the "h"). 

"Ow" means "brother" but is usually used to mean a 
younger, brother though not always. The word is not common 
any more. "Brother" is now usually expressed by saying "His- 
mother-is-my-mother" or some like word combination showing 
the relationship and "Ow" is hardly ever heard, though it is 
good Chinook and should be retained in its full meaning of 
"brother." 

BUT — AND — THEN — OR. 

PE (or TE). 

E as in free; pronounce Pee (or pea), Tee (or tea). 

"Pe" usually means "and" and "te" is just as often used as 
"pe" is to mean the same. The words are interchangeable or 
either can be used at the pleasure of the speaker. Nearly al- 



78 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

ways the meaning is "and" though not always, for in certain 
cases the meaning is "but," "then," "or," etc. The use in these 
meanings, however, is so limited that it is almost safe to dis- 
regard these meanings and let "and" be the only meaning be- 
cause "but" "then," "or," etc., are more apt to be expressed by 
the word "copo" or in some cases by "spose" (if), depending on 
the conversation. I think it would be well to limit the meaning 
of "pe" or "te" to "and" alone and so use it. 

Examples: "Nika pe mika klatawa," "You and I (me) go 
(together)." "Chaco pe lolo mika calipeen," "Come and bring 
your gun." 

CRAZY — FOOLISH — ABSURD — A FOOL. 
PELTON. 

E as in let; o as in on; accent -pel- and pronounce Pel-ton. 

"Pelton" covers the whole idea of insanity, feeble minded- 
ness, foolishness, etc., whether real or assumed. Its exact 
meaning is made clear by the words used with it. 

Examples: "Pelton man," "Crazy (insane) man." "Mesika 
delate pelton," "They are very foolish." "Nika kuitan chaco 
pelton," "My horse (was) come crazy." "Pelton mika!" "You 
(are) crazy," (or "foolish") as the case may be. 

FIRE — BLAZE — BURN. 
PIAH. 

I as in pie; a as in father; accent -pi- and pronounce Pi-ah as 

a single syllable word. 

"Piah" primarily means "fire," and the use of prefix or fol- 
lowing words associates "fire" or "the-use-of-fire" with any 
object or subject. 

Examples: "Piah," "Fire." "Kahkwa piah," "Like fire." 
"Piah sapolil," "Bread." (Literally: "Flour-changed-by-fire.") 
"Okeoke piah canim," "That is a fire-boat." (Literally: "A 
runs-by-fire boat.") "Piah chick-chick" (or "piah chickamun 
chickchick"), "A locomotive." (Literally: "A runs-by-fire-iron- 
wagon.) 

POWDER. 
POLALIE. 

O as in oat; a as in at; i as in thin; accent -po- and pronounce 

Poh-lal-ly. 

"Polalie" alone means "powder" but it is more often used 
as a descriptive prefix-word to give meaning to other words 
which it does by making them mean "powder-like." 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 79 

Examples: "Polalie," "Powder" (usually gunpowder). 
"Polalie illahee," "Sand," or "Sandy ground." (Literally: 
"Ground (that is) powder-like.") (The same words may mean 
"dusty," depends on surroundings, subject, etc.) "Kahkwa 
polalie," "Like powder." "Mamook copo polalie," "Make into 
powder" (grind, as wheat, corn, etc.) "Klosh polalie okeoke," 
"Good powder that (is)." 

TO GIVE — A GIVE-AWAY-FEAST. 
POTLATCH. 

O as in pot; a as in hat; ch as t'sch; accent -pot- and pro- 
nounce Pot-lat'sch. 

The primary meaning of "Potlatch" is really a "give-away- 
feast." Among the Indians the Potlatch was a great ceremony 
— the big event in the life of an Indian — the one thing he worked 
hardest for because it raised him to the dignity of a "big man." 
In other words he was an able financier' if he could give a 
"potlatch" and the more "potlatch" or "potlatches" he gave the 
bigger man he was. When an Indian gave a "potlatch" he col- 
lected together all his wordly goods and then sent out invita- 
tions to all his friends and neighbors and their friends to come 
and have a feast and a festival at his expense. He provided 
the "eatables" and "drinkables," the "time place and the music," 
and everybody was expected to go in and have the time of their 
lives singing, dancing, feasting and making merry for as long 
as they wanted to free of charge and "with the blue sky for 
the limit." Along toward the finish the man who gave the 
"potlatch" gave away to the assembled guests everything he 
owned in the world — all his goods, chattels and belongings of 
all kinds — and even in some cases his wives! This procedure 
left him with nothing more than when he entered the world 
except that he had gained renown — he was now penniless but 
he was a "big man," really, "somebody," to be looked up to, 
venerated and pointed out as a "potlatch man." There was, 
however, a string to things, for everybody who received a gift 
at a "potlatch" was expected to some time, somewhere, give to 
the giftmaker something just as valuable (or even a little more 
valuable) than the present he had received! This is in fact a 
common characteristic of Indians of all tribes everywhere — if 
they give you a present you are expected to return a present of 
equal or more value. The same idea held good in giving "pot- 
latch" gifts, yet the giving of a "potlatch" meant bestowal of 
great honor on the giver of the "potlatch" who was ever after- 
wards a "big man" in the eyes of everybody. That was the 
original meaning of "potlatch." Common usage has made the 
further meaning into "give," "to give," "pay," "a gift," etc. 
In ordinary conversation it means just plain "give" and is used 



80 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

as we use the English "give" to cover the same ideas "give" 
covers. The words used with it will, however, stretch its mean- 
ing to cover quite a field as above. 

Examples: "Potlatch okeoke copo nika," "Give that to 
me." "Wake nika potlatch," "Not will I give (it)." "Nika pot- 
latch chickamun, konce?" "I will pay, how much (is it?)" 
"Cultas potlatch," "A present." (In this last the word "cultas" 
changes from its original meaning of "bad" and becomes a word 
meaning "pleasure" or "take-pleasure-in," so, therefore, "cultas 
potlatch" translates it into "pleasure-giver" or "It is-a-pleasure- 
to-give," therefore a "free gift" — a friendly gift given because 
the giver receives pleasure from giving. 

DRUNK — FULL OF. 
PAHTLUM. 

A as in father; u as in rum; accent -pah- and pronounce Pah- 
tlum. 

The original meaning of "Pahtlum" was "full-of" but of 
late years it has come to mean almost nothing but "drunk" and 
is rarely used to mean anything else. It should be kept in its 
original meaning of "filled-up," "full-of," etc. 

Examples: (Old time use.) "Mamook pahtlum okeoke 
tamolitsh," "Fill up that bucket" (Make full-of (water) that 
bucket). "Wake lolo pish yowah, okeoke lacasset pahtlum!" 
"Don't bring (any more) fish here, this box is full!" 

(Modern use.) "Pahtlum okeoke man," "Drunk that man 
(is)." "Chaco, spose iskum pahtlum?" "Come (on), suppose 
(we) get drunk." 

PAINT. 
PENT. 

Corruption of English "paint." Used same as English to 
mean "paint" or "painted." 

Examples: "Kah yahka klale pent?" "Where (he) is that 
black paint?" ("Where is the black paint?") "Mamook t'kope 
okeoke canim copo klosh pent," "Make white the canoe with 
good paint." (Idea: "Paint the canoe white.") 

FATHER. 
PAPA. 

English word used in Chinook; means same as it does in 
English. Also used to mean "Father," "Head of the family," 
"Man of the house," etc. Same ideas as English. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 81 

BLANKET. 
PAHSEESEE. 

Accent -pah- and pronounce Pah-see-see. 

Means primarily "a blanket," and is generally used in this 
meaning - , but also used to mean any heavy woolen cloth, a 
shawl, etc. 

Examples: "Konce chickamun okeoke pahseesee?" "How 
much is this blanket (or shawl)?" "Klosh okeoke pahseesee 
spose mamook klootchman-coat?" "That would be a good cloth 
for a dress." (Good that wool-cloth suppose made into a wom- 
an-coat.) "Pahseesee-sail," "Woolen cloth." 

PAPER. 
PEPAH. 

E as in get; a as in father; accent -pe- and pronounce Peh-pah. 

Corruption of English "paper" and used to mean paper of 
any kind. 

Examples: "Wawa pepah," "A letter" (Talking paper). 
"T'zum pepah," "Printed paper" (A book or poster, anything 
printed or colored on paper). "Pepah" is used as a prefix or a 
followup word to bring out any definite meaning where "paper" 
in any form is involved. 

Examples: "Pepah lasack," "Paper sack." "Pepah 
lacasset," "Paper box," etc. 

RED. 

PIL. 

Pronounce same as English "pill." 

"Pil" in Chinook means "red" color or any color near-red. 

Examples: "Okeoke pil-sail," "That is red cloth." "Pil- 
chickamun," "Red metal" (gold). "Pil-chuck," "Red-water" 
(really dark water carrying vegetable coloring matter from 
swamps, etc.). "Pil-chuck," or "Man-pil-chuck" is also used to 
mean "blood" (literally, Red-water-from-man). "Pil-pil" is also 
sometimes used to mean "blood' but this is simply another form 
of the use of "pil" to mean "red," the duplication of the word 
merely being used to mean "red-red." 

SHOOT — BLOW — EXPLODE. 
POO. 

Oo as in coo; pronounce as written. 

"Poo!" is an explosive word in imitation of an explosive 
sound just as in English we say "Bang!" to mean the noise 



82 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

of a gunshot. "Poo" in Chinook is practically the same as 
"Bang!" in English but it carries the further meaning of "blow" 
(blow like wind). This is really about the same idea that "puff" 
covers in English. 

Examples: "Mamook poo," "(To) make shoot." "Yahka 
wind mamook poo nika lamp," "He (the) wind blow-out my 
lamp." "let man mamook poo yahka stick copo illahee copo 
polalie poo," "One man (a man) shoot him (the) stick-in-the- 
ground with powder-shoot." (Idea: "The man blew the stump 
out of the ground with powder.") This is an example of how 
ideas are sometimes brought out in Chinook. The words as 
spoken do not convey the idea alone but the gestures that go 
with the words taken in connection with location, speaker, 
listener and surroundings make the meaning plain to the listen- 
er. 

NIGHT. 
POLIKELY. 

"Polikely" in Chinook covers the whole idea of "night," 
"darkness," "gloom," and with "kahkwa" used as a prefix 
(Kahkwa polikely) it is made to mean "night-like" to cover a 
smoky or foggy condition of the air which results in half dark- 
ness. Primarily, however, the word means "night" or "of-the- 
night," that is, pertaining to, or a part of, the night, as "Polikely 
kullakulla" is "Night-bird," meaning the owl, while the bat is 
"Polikely hoolhool kahkwa kullakulla," or "Night-mouse like-a- 
bird." (Literally: "The night-mouse that has-wings-and-flies- 
like-a-bird.") 

Examples: "let polikely," "One night." (This night.) 
"Copo sitkum polikely," "Half-night." (Midnight.) "Chaco 
copo polikely," "Come in the night." "Konce polikely kapswal- 
lie man mamook mahsh nika canim," "When it was night some 
thief stole (made away with) my canoe." "Okeoke polikely," 
"Tonight." "Mesika klatawa copo polikely," "They went away 
in (the) night." "Hiyu kahkwa polikely," "Much like night." 
"Copo polikely hiyu pish chaco copo skookum-chuck," "In the 
night many fish come into the river (or lake)." 

FIGHT. 
PUKKUK. 

U as in up (both syllables) ; accent -puk- and pronounce Puk- 

kuk. 

"Pukkuk" means "to-fight," but more in the sense of "fight- 
ing hand to hand" than otherwise, though it can be made to 
mean any kind of a fight anywhere. Other words are used to 
shade the meaning in various ways. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 83 

Examples: "Heehee pukkuk," "To box" (A fun-fight). 
"Delate solleks pukuk," "A bad fight — a very-mad-fight — a fight 
where the fighters mean business." "Pelton pukkuk," "Crazy 
fight." "Mamook pukkuk," "To make-fight." (Force the fight- 
ing.) "Klosh pukkuk nika kowmux," "My dog is a good fight- 
er." ("Good-fight(er) my dog (is).") 

COUGAR. 
PUSSPUSS. 

Duplicate of the English word "puss," a cat. Primarily 
used to mean the cougar, but by using prefix words is made to 
mean ordinary housecat, wildcat, cat-like, etc. 

Examples: "Hyas pusspuss mika iskum," "(A) big cougar 
you got." (Idea: "You killed a big cougar.") "Tenas pusspuss 
mitlite copo house," "The little-cat-that-lives-in-the-house) 
(house cat)." "T'zum lemolo pusspuss," "Spotted wildcat." 
"Okeoke pusspuss muckamuck hoolhool," "That cat ate a 
mouse." 

CLOTH — WOVEN GOODS. 

SAIL. 

Same as English. 
_ "Sail" means in Chinook "cloth" of any kind; color, ma- 
terial, texture, etc., being fixed by combination with other 
words as you would say "cotton-cloth," "black-cloth," etc. The 
word also means "a sail" for a boat, so it has two distinct idea- 
meanings, each of which is used separately with "sail" to mean 
"cloth" in one case or "boat-sail" in the other. This would 
seem to be confusing but it is not, for the word combinations 
used with "sail" in the "cloth" sense have to do with "cloth" 
as a commodity, while the words used with "sail" in the "boat 
sail" sense have to do with the handling of a boat, so the mean- 
ing is always clear. 

Examples (Boat sail) : "Mamook keekwillie mika sail," 
"(Make) take down your sail." "Hyas sail nika iskum copo 
canim," "(A) big sail I get (have) on (my) canoe." 

(Cloth examples.) "Klosh t'zum sail okeoke," "Good col- 
ored (print) cloth that (is)." ("That is good calico.") "Nika 
iskum waum sail?" "(Have) you got some warm-cloth?" 
(Woolen.) "Kahkwa snass-sail (or pent-sail)," "Like oilcloth 
(or painted cloth)." 

FLOUR — MEAL. 
SAPOLIL. 

A as in sap; o as in oat; i as in lily; accent -sap- and pronounce 
Sap-poh-lil. 



84 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

_ "Sapolil" means meal or flour made from any kind of grain. 
It is usually used in connection with "Piah" to mean the idea 
"baked-bread" (Piah sapolil). Outside of this it usually means 
wheat-flour and is mostly used as a trade word to designate 
flour when buying supplies. It can, however, mean "meal" or 
any kind of ground-up-grain, depending on the words used with 
it to qualify the kind of flour intended. In this case the English 
word precedes it, as "Cohn-sapolil" means "corn meal" and 
"kuitan sapolil" would mean "ground-grain-for-horse-feed" just 
as "moosmoos-sapolil" would mean "ground-up-grain-for-cows- 
to-eat" (by inference, "shorts" or "bran," usually.) 

EYES — FACE. 
SEEOWIST. 

E as in me; ow together as in cow; i as in it; accent -see- and 

pronounce See-ow-wist. 

Primarily "Seeowist" means "eyes" and is more often used 
to mean eyes or to fix something used in connection with the 
eyes than any other way. It is flexible enough, however, tc 
mean "see," or rather more nearly "eyesight," and even to 
mean "face" sometimes, though not often. In common usage 
it is used to mean almost exclusively "eyes." 

Examples: "Nika seeowist chaco sick," "My eyes are sick." 
(Sore, hurt, do not see well.) "Yahka ladoctin wawa nika iskum 
dollah seeowist," "He (the) doctor says I (must) get spectacles 
(dollar-shaped-glasses) for my eyes." "Mika tilacum yahka 
Boston klootchman yahka seeowist klale," "My friend she (the 
white woman), her eyes are black (or blue) in color." "Klosh 
mika seeowist?" "Are your eyes good?" 

Note: — "Nanage" is the word commonly used for "see" 
instead of "seeowist" and in ordinary conversation "nanage" 
would be used to mean "look," "see," etc., and "seeowist" to 
mean the "eyes." 

MAD — ANGRY — VEXED — TEMPER. 
SOLLEKS. 

O as in solemn; e as in get; accent -sol- and pronounce Soll- 

ecks. 

"Solleks" in Chinook covers the whole idea of "angry" as 
understood in English. All degrees of angry, mad, vexed, out 
of temper, etc., are "solleks," the particular degree being fixed 
by qualifying prefix words usually and if not used this way 
then by the use of "solleks" in connection with the other words 
in the sentence. 

Examples: "Nika chaco solleks," "I got mad." (Literally: 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 85 

"I come mad.") "Delate solleks nika kowmux pe hiyu pukkuk," 
"My dog was very mad and much fought." "Yahka delate cul- 
tas man, konce chaco solleks mamook konaway ictas kokshut 
hyas hyak, a-a-ah!" "He (is a) very bad man, when (he) comes 
mad (he) makes all things smashed big quick — yes!" "Chim 
pe Tom chaco solleks, pe mamook pukkuk pe tyee lolo copo 
skookum house," "Jim and Tom got mad and fought and the 
law chief (policeman) carried (put) them in the strong-house 
(jail)." 

IF — SUPPOSE. 

SPOSE. 

as in oat; pronounce same as English. 

"Spose" is a corruption of the English word "suppose" and 
means in Chinook about what "suppose" means in English. It 
is usually used the same as "if" is used in English. 

Examples: "Spose mika chaco mamook," "Suppose you 
come and work (for me)." "Nika kwan spose iskum mowitch," 
"I (will be) glad if (I) get a deer." "Spose okeoke stone delate 
kull halo mika mamook kokshut," "If that stone is too hard do 
not (try) you (to) break it." "Delate tanze pe hiyu heehee 
mesika mamook spose konaway mika klootchman chaco copo 
nika house," "Very much dance and big fun we make suppose 
all your women come to my house." "Spose wake klap nika 
kuitan halo mesika klatawa copo Seattle," "If (I) cannot find my 
horses we will not go to Seattle." (Literally: "If not find my 
horses not we go Seattle.") 

FAR — LONG DISTANCE — LENGTH. 
SIAH. 

1 as in sight; a as in father; accent -si- and pronounce Sigh-ah. 

"Siah" is usually used to mean "far" or "far-away-from," 
though it is quite frequently used to mean length as "okeoke 
siah," "that is long," or "Wake siah okeoke," "Not long that is 
(that is short)." Its usual use is to indicate long-distance-in- 
travel, in the length of a road, river, etc. 

Examples: "Konce siah copo mika house?" "How much 
far is it to your house." "Delate s-i-a-h mika mitlite," "It is a 
very long distance (to where) I live." Great distance is indicated 
by drawing out the word as indicated above just the same as 
long-time-past is indicated by drawing out "ahncuttie," and in 
like manner still greater distance is indicated by adding "delate" 
or "hiyu" as prefix words and drawing these words out in like 
manner. "Siah nika chaco okeoke sun," "Far I have come to- 
day." "Wake siah," "Not far" (short distance). 



86 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

ONE-HALF — THE MIDDLE. 
SITKUM. 

I as in sit; u as in up; accent -sit- and pronounce Sit-kum. 

"Sitkum" primarily means "one-half" but it can mean any 
fractional part by using prefix words to mean "larger half," 
"much larger half," "smaller half," "much, very much, etc., 
smaller half," etc., thus: "Tenas sitkum," "Small-half." "De- 
late tenas sitkum," "Very much smaller half" (one-third, one- 
fourth, etc.) "Hiyu sitkum," "The big half," etc. "Elip sitkum," 
means "Before the middle," or really the "early half" or "first 
half." "Kimtah sitkum," "The behind half," or the "Last or 
later half." It is thus used to mean "forenoon" or "afternoon," 
etc., in designating time. Its most common use is to denote 
"one-half" or some fractional part. 

STRONG — GREAT STRENGTH — PERFECTION — 
PERSONAL WORTH. 

SKOOKUM. 

Oo as in coo; us as in hum; accent -skoo- and pronounce Skoo- 

kum. 

"Skookum" has a wide scope of meaning and is in a way 
interchangeable with "klosh" (good), yet the good Chinook 
speaker makes a difference in the use of the two words. 
"Skookum" is usually used to mean "great strength" in the 
sense that a perfectly healthy, large, athletic man would fill the 
exact definition of "Skookum-man," while a very powerful engine 
would be spoken of as being "delate skookum," meaning "very 
strong" (powerful). "Klosh" could mean the same thing but 
it is usually used to mean "goodness" in some form, that is, 
"goodness of heart," "kindness," "worth," etc., while "skookum" 
has to do more with personal muscular strength or power-in- 
structure. To use the words properly let "skookum" have a 
primary meaning of "strong," "strength," etc., and "klosh" 
mean "good," "worth," etc., and use whichever word fits the 
case best, though either one can be used in place of the other. 
If a thing be strong, tough, powerful (or any other like idea), 
it is "skookum." 

Examples: "Skookum man okeoke," "A strong man (that 
is)." "Skookum stick," "Tough wood. (The wood to make 
bows from.) "Skookum lope," "A strong rope." "Skookum- 
chuck," "Fresh water." (This really means "Good-for-you 
water," that is, "makes-you-strong water," as compared to "salt- 
chuck" which is "salt-water" — not-fit-to-drink.) "Delate skook- 
um nika kuitan," "Very strong my horse is." (Idea meaning: 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 87 

"A well muscled, strong working or far-traveling horse — a 
tough, hardy animal good for work or travel.) "Skookum 
wawa," "A good speech" (in the sense that the logic is strong, 
the argument is clear, strong, good, etc.) "Okeoke man delate 
skookum tumtum," "That man has a very strong mind." (A 
thinker, a leader, a good speaker, a wise man.) 

STONE — ROCK — STONELIKE. 
STONE. 

The English word pronounced as English and used as 
English and also used as a prefix word in Chinook to fix the 
stone-like quality to other words — to make them mean "hard- 
like-stone." Use as in English. 

UP — ABOVE. 
SAHALE. 

A as in father (both syllables); e as in me; accent -sah- and pro- 
nounce Sah-hah-lee. 

Alone it means "up," or "up above;" used to denote high 
or comparative height; full meaning depends on words used 
with it as "delate sahale," is "very high up," "tenas sahale," the 
opposite or, literally, "little high," or "little up." Usually used 
thus: "Sahale tyee," (the up-above chief) to mean the Chris- 
tian idea of God (which by the way is not the Indian conception 
of the Diety at all, but the white man's idea grafted on to In- 
dian understanding). 

It is altogether likely that "Sahale" at an early time in the 
history of Chinook meant to the Indian "God" as the white man 
understands it, that the word was so introduced by the mis- 
sionaries who adopted some Indian word and gave it this arbi- 
trary meaning in order to carry on their religious work among 
the Indians. Usage, however, has given the present additional 
meaning, or rather broadened the meaning to cover "up," "up 
above," "high up," etc., in fact, the whole idea of "up." Nowa- 
days if one wants to express the idea of the white man's "God" 
he must say "sahale-tyee" or "up-above-chief" on account of 
the present broad meaning of "sahale." 

PANTALOONS — LEGGINS. 
SOKOLUKS. 

O as in soak (both syllables); u as in up; accent -kol- and pro- 
nounce So-koll-uks. 
Means originally "Indian leggins," but later broadened to 

mean "white men's leggins" (pantaloons). Now about obsolete 

and so little used as to be almost unknown. 



88 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

SALLALBERRY. 
SALLAL. 

A as in salmon (both syllables); accent -lal- and pronounce 

Sal-lal. 

A wild berry (the gualtheria Shallon) common to the 
wooded districts of the Coast and to the Rocky Mountain tim- 
bered country. Formerly used as food but now hardly ever 
used at all, and the word has been incorporated into English 
and used to designate both the berry and the plant itself, and 
when used in Chinook is used exactly as "strawberry," "black- 
berry," etc., are used in English. 

SALMON. 
SALMON. 

English name incorporated into Chinook and used to cover 
all the salmon tribe of fishes that swim the seas. Used exactly 
as it is used in English with prefix words to designate the par- 
ticular kind of salmon, thus: "Tyee salmon," "Chief salmon" 
(Quinat.) "T'zum salmon," "The spotted salmon" (trout). 
"Tenas salmon," "Little salmon." "Silber salmon," "Silver sal- 
mon." "Kowmux salmon," "Dog salmon." 

SALT. 
SALT. 

English word used in Chinook exactly as used in English. 
Used as a prefix for water, thus: "Salt chuck" means "Salt 
water" or "ocean." Otherwise same as English. 

HAT. 
CHAPPO. 

French "Chapeau" incorporated into Chinook with its orig- 
inal meaning but now practically obsolete. Used yet to some 
extent to mean "hat" or "cap." "Klootchman chappo" means 
"woman-hat." The word is now practically out of use. 

SHAME. 
SHEM. 

The English word incorporated into Chinook with its 
English meaning but Indian pronunciation. Used and means 
same as English "shame." 



Tft.^ CHINOOK BOOK 89 

SUGAR. 
SUKWAH. 

U sounds as oo in coo; a as in father; accent -suk- and pro- 
nounce Sook-wah. 

The English word "sugar" pronounced in Indian patois 
which substitutes "k" for "g" and "ah" for "r." Used and 
means the same as English "sugar" when used in Chinook. 

GRIZZLY BEAR. 
SIAM. 

I as in high; a as in am; accent -am- and pronounce Sigh-ahm. 
Old Chinook for "Grizzly bear," but so little used now- 
adays as to be obsolete. Should be preserved and used to mean 
what "grizzly bear" does in English. 

SICK. 
SICK. 

English word with its English meaning incorporated into 
Chinook. Use it with qualifying words the same as in English 
to designate the "kind of sick" and it will be right. 

Examples: "Wahm-sick," "Fever." "Cole-sick," "Chill." 
"Delate sick," "Very sick," "Sick tumtum," "Sick at heart." 
"Sick copo home," "Homesick." 

SEVEN. 
SINAMOX. 

I as in sin; a as in father; o as in ox; accent -sin- and pro- 
nounce Sin-a-mocks. 

The numeral "Seven." No other meaning. Use just as 
English "seven" would be used under all conditions. 

(See "Counting in Chinook" for use in making higher num- 
bers.) 

SIAWASH INDIAN. 
SIAWASH. 

I as in sigh; a as in ah (very slightly); a as in wash; accent 

-si- and pronounce Sigh-ah-wash. 

"Siawash" originally meant the Indian man of the West 
Coast north of the Columbia River. Common usage, however, 
has made the meaning to cover "Indians" as a people, men, 



90 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

women and children alike, and anything connected with them 
is designated "Siawash," meaning "Indian owned," "Indian 
made," "Indian like," etc. 

In Chinook usage "Siawash" means "Indian" or "Indians," 
or "Indian man," "Indian woman," "Indian child" or "Indian 
property" as the case may demand. If it is "Indian" in any 
way it is "Siawash" in Chinook. Use it accordingly with prefix 
or follow-up words to bring the whole meaning out. 

Examples: "Siawash canim," "Indian canoe." "Siawash 
man," "Indian man." "Siawash cosho," "Indian pig" (the hair 
seal). "Siawash ictas," "Indian things." 



SKIN — LEATHERY — RIND. 
SKIN. 

"Skin" is the English word in Chinook, meaning and all, 
and with the added meanings of "leather," "rawhide," "hide," 
etc. Anything of any kind or shape made of any skin or leather 
is "skin" in Chinook and the word is almost always used as a 
prefix to some other word so that it really means "made-of- 
skin," thus: "Skin lacasset," "A purse or handbag — a leather 
covered trunk." "Skin shoe," "Leather shoes" (white men's 
shoes, not moccasins). "Mowitch skin," "Buckskin." "Skin 
lope," "Rawhide rope" (or string), etc. 

RAIN. 
SNASS. 

Pronounce as spelled (a as in has). 

Chinook word for "rain"; no other meaning. 

Examples: "Hiyu snass," "Much rain." "Cole snass," 
"Snow" (cold rain). "Kahkwa snass," "Mist," (like rain). 
"Cultas snass," "Fog." "Halo nika klatawa copo snass," "I will 
not go in the rain." ("No I go in rain.") 

JUMP. 
SOPENA. 

O as in soap; e as in see; a as in father; accent -so- and pro- 
nounce So-peen-nah. 
Chinook meaning is "jump" or "spring," "leap," "hop," etc. 

Very little used nowadays but should be preserved as it is good 

Chinook. 

Examples: "Sopena nika!" "Jump you!" "Halo nika so- 

pena," "Not will I jump" (no me jump). 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 91 

EIGHT. 

STOTEKIN. 

O as in oat; e as in eat; i as in tin; accent -stote- and pronounce 

Stote-e-kin. 

The numeral "eight." Has no other meaning. 

(See "counting in Chinook" for use in making higher num- 
bers.) 

SUN. 

SUN. 

The English word, meaning and all, incorporated into Chi- 
nook and given the further broader meaning of "a day," as a 
measure of time. 

Examples: "Okeoke sun," "That (is the) sun." "let sun," 
"One sun" (one day — the time it takes the sun to cross the sky 
once). "Okeoke sun," is also used to mean "this day" (today). 
"Sitkum sun," "Middle-day" (noon). "Elip sitkum sun," "Be- 
fore middle-day" (forenoon). "Kimtah sitkum sun," "After 
middle day" (afternoon). "Wake sun," "Dark (cloudy, no 
sun)." "Hiyu sun," "Much sun" (hot, bright). 

SUNDAY. 
SUNDAY. 

Same as English, pronounced same, means same, used 
same. 

"Hyas Sunday," "Holiday" (big Sunday). "let Sunday," 
"One week," etc. 

TREE — TIMBER — LUMBER. 

STICK. 

Same as English. 

The word "stick" is used to denote "tree" or "wood" of 
any kind — "anything-made-of-wood." It is used alone to mean 
"tree" or a "timber" of any kind, a "pole," "large plank," "bridge 
timber," etc. Its other uses make it a prefix word to mean 
"wooden," "made of wood," "like wood," etc. 

Examples: "Yahka stick," "Him (that) tree," (or a pole, a 
big plank, a timber, etc., depending on object, subject and sur- 
roundings). "Whim stick," "Down-timber" (fallen logs, etc., 
a stick or tree on the ground). "Stick ship," "A wooden ship." 
"Stick calipeen," "A bow" (wooden gun). "Nika tika ax stick," 
"I want an ax handle." 



92 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

THE GODS — MAGIC — GHOST — ANYTHING BEYOND 
HUMAN UNDERSTANDING — THE MANY-THINGS- 
UNKNOWN— THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE SUPER- 
NATURAL FROM ANY ANGLE. 

TAHMAHNAWIS. 

A as in father in all three syllables; i as in hiss; accent -mah- 
and pronounce Tah-mah-nah-wiss with hissing s sound at 
end of the word. 

Anything that a West Coast Indian does not see a logical, 
connected sequence of events plainly accounting for, he calls 
"Tahmanawis." The word alone means "supernatural," "super- 
natural power," "agencies not understood by mankind," "magic 
things," etc. The "Tahmahnawis" idea goes even further than 
this for it gives-supernatural-power to inanimate objects, or 
credits them with already having such power. It also covers 
the whole idea of "luck" (good or bad) and of "the-evil-eye" or 
power-to-injure-by-supernatural-power. Anything and every- 
thing God-like, Devil-like, Spirit-like, etc., is "Tahmahnawis" 
or has to do with "Tahmahnawis." Aid for the sick comes only 
by the practice of certain "magic" or "Tahmahnawis" rites, 
songs, incantations or ceremonies. Luck is granted the same way 
to the person who knows how to appeal for help to the spirits of 
the unseen world. One can "cast a spell" or injure his enemies, 
or gain help for himself in the same way. A "medicine man" 
in white understanding is to the Indian a "Tahmahnawis man," 
(literally) "A man in touch with the spirits and the whole 
world of magic, supernatural power, the-many-things-unknown 
and the unseen, dreaded powers that are invisible," etc. (and not 
understood to mean a doctor of medicine at all. Really, "Medi- 
cine-man" conveys the idea that a man is a "magician-priest- 
doctor-wonder-worker man.") 

"Tahmahnawis" is divided in the Indian understanding into 
the good or "klosh Tahmahnawis" (which are the helping 
Gods and powers that work for good influence over a man's 
life acts), the "Klale Tahmahnawis" (which is, literally, "black 
magic" and is the evil power that brings sickness, death, bad 
luck and misfortune), the "Sahale Tahmahnawis" (which has 
to do with the up-above-Gods, the Christian understanding of 
the Creator and all 'connected with God or Jesus) and the 
"Sick or Medicine Tahmahnawis" (the practice of healing-by- 
aid-of-magic-ceremonies of the medicine man). 

There is not space here to give a full description of the 
far reaching meaning of "Tahmahnawis" to the Indian under- 
standing nor to describe the "Tahmahnawis" ceremonies used 
in healing the sick, nor to describe the "Red Tahmahnawis," a 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 93 

ceremonial incantation-dance of thanks-for-good-luck and ap- 
peal-for-further-protection that was originally practiced by- 
West Coast Indians for three or four days each year. Nor can 
we go into the ceremonies of the great "Klale Tahmahnawis" 
which was and had to do with an organized secret society 
closely allied to Masonry, in some ways, among the Indians, 
but with additional rites, practices and ceremonies of a nature 
that made the name "Klale Tahmahnawis" (literally, "Black- 
magic" society), feared everywhere for its terrors, both real 
and fancied — (cannibalism was frequently practiced by this so- 
ciety and sometimes a live slave or captive was actually torn 
to pieces by the teeth of the society members and the victim's 
flesh eaten raw), nor can we describe the "Tahmahnawis" of 
a religious character that had to do strictly with the Gods and 
God-like things. Each branch of "Tahmahnawis" could be 
made to fill a book before it was finished, and a study of the 
"Tahmahnawis" idea as found among all the Indian tribes of 
the continent (in some form or other of ceremonial perform- 
ances, etc.) is the most fascinating thing connected with In- 
dians. It is so weird, so full of the unseen, the "many-things- 
unknown" that it makes one "creep" and wonder if there really 
can be anything behind the idea of "Tahmahnawis" more than 
the lack of ability of the human understanding to grasp the 
unknown, unseen powers that are cosmic in their scope. 

For the purposes of Chinook, let the word "Tahmahnawis" 
cover all the ideas explained briefly above and use it as a prefix 
word to attach these meanings or any one of them to the sub- 
ject under discussion. Use it alone to mean any or all of the 
"Many-things-unknown," or bring it into a sentence any way 
to modify or attach to the sentence idea any or all of the above 
ideas and it will be used properly so far as Chinook usage is 
concerned. 

Examples: "Okeoke nika tahmahnawis," "That (is) my 
guardian spirit (my protector)." "Klosh tahmahnawis okeoke," 
"Good magic that" (has protective powers). "Okeoke klale 
tahmahnawis," "That' (is) black magic (something with far- 
reaching power to work injury)." "Tahmahnawis ictas," "Things 
of (or having to do with) magic, or the practice of magic cere- 
monies, rites, etc." "Tahmahnawis man," "A medicine man." 
(The medicine man was, first, a conjurer or maker-worker of 
magic; second, a priest or maker-talker-worker of religious rites 
and ceremonies; third, a doctor of medicine who cured by the 
use of a few simple remedies and the sweat bath, together with 
a large amount of the ceremonial performances of both of the 
other above "Tahmahnawis" branches of his profession (Nos. 
1 and 2) ; and, fourth, a man of such personal, supernatural- 
powers-derived-through-his-personal-contact - with - both - good - 
and-evil-spirits, that he could work great good or bad as he 



94 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

chose into the everyday life of anyone by the use of certain 
ceremonies or even by "wishing" things to happen. He was 
always the most feared and best hated man in the tribe and his 
power was greater or less, depending on his past record of 
things accomplished, and he was, to be sure, always quick to 
turn anything to advantage to add to his reputation.) 

A FRIEND — PEOPLE — TRIBE — PERSON — RELA- 
TIVES—A MATE-TO OR FRIEND - OF. 

TILACUM. 

I as in till; a as in father; u as in up; accent -til- and pronounce 

Till-ah-kum. 

"Tillacum" is primarily the Chinook word for "friend" or 
"my friend," and is always used to indicate "friend," "friends," 
"friendly," etc. In actual use it is stretched to mean any per- 
son or persons, strangers, crowds, people, relatives, etc. The 
exact meaning is always given by qualifying words that are 
used usually (but not always) as prefix words to fix the idea 
of "crowd," "people," "friend," "stranger," "relative," "person" 
or some like idea, and to give it a definite relationship to the 
subject under discussion. The speaker and hearer, situation, 
surroundings and subject in hand all have a bearing on and 
help directly to give the exact meaning to the spoken word 
in the use of "tilacum" just as they do with very many Chinook 
words in actual use. 

Examples: "Nika tilacum," "My friend." "Konaway nika 
tilacum," "All of my relations (or friends or tribe)." "Huloime 
tilacums," "Different people (not my tribe)." "Opitsah tila- 
cum," "A table fork (literally, a friend-of or mate-to the knife)." 
"Ahncuttie tilacum," "An old-time friend (an old resident, old- 
timer)." "Hiyu tilacum," "A crowd — many people." "Konaway 
tilacum klatawa," "All (the) people (have) gone," or "All my 
friends have gone" (depending on surrounding conditions). 
"Klosh tilacums," "Good friends." 

TIRED — HEAVY. 
TILL. 

I as in kill; pronounce as written. 

"Till" means either "tired" or "heavy-in-weight." In the 
first meaning it is used as we use "tired" in English except 
that "chaco" (come) is usually used as a prefix and in the sec- 
ond meaning it is used to mean usually "great weight," though 
it may mean any weight or a comparative weight, depending 
on surroundings and how it is used. 

Examples: "Nika chaco till," "I am tired" (literally, "I 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 95 

come tired.") "Wake till nika," "Not tired (am) I." "Nika 
klootchman delate till, mesika mitlite," "My woman (is) very- 
tired, we (will) stop (here)." "Okeoke stick delate till," "That 
timber (is) very heavy." "Till kahkwa chickmun," "Heavy like 
iron (or metal)." "Hiyu till okeoke, wake mitlite copo canim," 
"Very heavy that (is), not (let it) stay in (the) canoe." (Idea: 
"That is too heavy — do not put in the canoe.") "Yahka stone 
delate till; hyas till nika, spose lolo," "He (that) stone (is) very 
heavy, big tired me (I would be) suppose (I) carry (it)." (Idea: 
"That is a heavy stone; it would make me tired to carry it.") 

SMALL — LITTLE — FEW — SHORT. 

TENAS. 

E as in pen; a as in pass; accent -ten- and pronounce Ten-as. 

"Tenas" is the symbol of "small size" in Chinook and is 
used as a prefix or as a following word in any sentence to con- 
nect the "small-size" idea or the idea "few-in-numbers," "short," 
"little," etc., with the subject in hand. Anything that is small 
is always spoken of as "tenas" just as anything large is called 
"hyas" in speaking Chinook. 

Examples: "Tenas man," "A boy." "Tenas whim stick," 
"A small log." "Delate tenas," "Very small." "Tenas siah," 
"A short distance." "Okeoke delate hyas; mamook tenas," 
"That is too big; make it small." "Tenas lope," "A string (small 
rope)." "Nika tika tenas cosho gleece," "I want a little lard." 
"Tenas chickamun, halo nika mamook," "Little money, no I 
work." (Idea: "The pay is too small, I won't work for that.") 
"Klosh spose tenas piah," "Good if little fire." (Idea: "A little 
fire would be good to have.") "Nika kowmux iskum klone tenas 
bebe," "My dog has three little puppies." 

WANT — DESIRE — WISH FOR. 

TIKA. 

I as in it; a as in father; accent -ti- and pronounce Tick-ah. 

"Tika" is the word conveying the idea that "I want," or 
"wish for," "he wants," "they want," "I did want," "I will want," 
or any combination indicating present, past or future "desire" 
on the part of any one or group, its exact meaning depending 
on the words used with it. 

Examples: "Nika tika okeoke," "I want that." "Wake 
okeoke man tika okeoke," "Not that man wants that," (Liter- 
ally: "That man does not want that.") "Wake lalie nika tika 
okeoke." (Literally: "Not long I want that.") "I will want 
that before long." 

"Tika" covers the whole idea of "desire" or "want" as un- 
derstood in English and should be used as "I want," "desire," 
"wish for," etc., are used in English. 



96 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

THINK — THE MIND — HEART — INTELLECT — SPIR- 
IT — THOUGHT — MEMORY — KNOW — THE ENTIRE 
MENTAL PROCESS. 

TUMTUM. 

U as in sum in both syllables; accent first syllable -turn- and 

pronounce Tum-tum. 

"Tumtum" is the Chinook word-symbol for the whole 
mental process, "the mind," "thinking," etc., and it also covers 
"the heart" in the sense of the emotions of "good will," "hate," 
"fear," "grief," "love," "sorrow," "anger," etc., which are all 
developed in the sentence by use of a prefix word coupled 
with "tumtum," thus: "Klosh nika tumtum copo mika," "Good- 
my-heart-is toward you" — "I think well of you" — "I esteem 
you," etc. "Nika sick tumtum," "I am sick-in-my-heart (or 
mind)." (Idea: "I grieve (or feel-sorry) for you.") In 
ordinary conversation it is used in one meaning as much as 
in the other and in some instances it conveys a double mean- 
ing of heart-and-mind as in the case (above) of grief expres- 
sion. Use it to cover the description of anything connected 
with the mind or mental-process or with the-heart-in-a-mental- 
sense and it will be correct. 

Examples: "Tumtum nika klatawa," "(I) think I (will) go." 
"Halo mika klosh tumtum," "No you good-think" or "Your 
heart-is-not-right (toward us)." "Nika tumtum copo illahee," 
"My heart-is-on-the-ground." (Idea: "I am plunged in 
despair.") "Icta mika tumtum?" "What do you think?" "Wake 
klosh tumtum nika," "No good-think me." (I do not think- 
well-of-it.) "Halo comtox, tumtum cultas," "(I) do not know 
(but I) think (it is) bad." (Literally: "No understand, think- 
bad.") "Yahka klootchman sick tumtum copo man," "That 
woman mourns-in-her-heart-for her man." "Mamook mahsh 
copo tumtum," "Get it out-of-your-mind." (Literally: "Make 
throw-away-from (you) think (what-you-think).") "Kwone- 
sum kahkwa nika tumtum," "I think-the-same as you do." 
("I agree with you.") (Literally: "Always-the-same-as (you) 
I think.") "Klosh tumtum man," "A thinker — a man with a 
mind." Delate heehee-tumtum mesika mamook," "A joyful 
time we will have." (Literally: "Great fun-in-mind we (will) 
make-do.") 

CHIEF — THE HEAD MAN — LEADER. 
TYEE. 

Y has the sound of i as in high ee as in meet; accent -ty- 
and pronounce Tie-ee. 
"Tyee" is Chinook for "the-leader"' or "chief-man" but is 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 97 

used in any case where a "head-man," "leader-of," "foreman," 
"boss," etc. is meant. The word "chief" in English can be 
made to mean almost anything that "tyee" will cover in Chi- 
nook and it would have to be qualified the same way to bring 
out the meaning as "the chief-man," the "chief-horse," etc. 
"Tyee" is handled in Chinook in like manner to mean the 
same. 

Examples: "Nika tika nanage copo typee," "I want to 
see the head-man (boss, foreman, etc.)." "Nika nanage moos- 
moos tyee," "I saw the leader-of the elk (herd)." "Okeoke 
tyee calipeen," "That (is a) chief-gun." (Idea: "That gun is 
so big (or so good) that it is a chief-gun — a leader-among- 
guns — the best-one.") "Tyee copo konaway man," "The lead- 
er-of (or chief-over) all men" (meaning a President, King, 
etc.). 

SIX. 

TOKUM. 

O as in oak; u as in hum; accent -tok- and pronounce 
Tohk-um with slight h sound as indicated in first syllable. 

"Tokum" means the numeral "six" and nothing else, and 
is used as six is used in English. (See "Counting in Chinook" 
for use in making higher numbers.) 



TEN. 
TATLUM. 

A as in hat; u as in hum; accent -tat- and pronounce Tat-lum. 
"Tatlum" is Chinook for the numeral "ten" and has no 
other meaning. (See "Counting in Chinook" for use in con- 
nection with other numbers.) 

COYOTE. 
TALAPUS. 

A as in hat; a as in father; u as in puss; accent -tal- and pro- 
nounce Tal-a-puss. 

Means "coyote or "little-wolf-of-the-prairie." It also 
means "sneaking," "wolf-like," etc., mostly, however, it is used 
as the name of this particular animal and is used very little 
west of the Cascade Mountains. 

Examples: "Nika nanage mox talapus," "I saw two coy- 
otes." "Yahka man delate talapus," "That man (he) is a 
sneak." (He is wolf-like — will bear watching — unreliable, etc.) 



9g THE CHINOOK BOOK 

BUCKET — BARREL. 
TAHMOLITSH. 

A as in father; o as in oat; i as in hit; accent -mo- and pro- 
nounce Tah-mow-litsch. 

This word is used to mean a "barrel," "wooden bucket," 
"cask," "keg," "wooden tub" or any similar object. It is not 
in very common use any more, however, the English names 
of each object above being used in place of it, indicates it 
will soon be obsolete. Use same as English name-word would 
be used. 

DANCE. 

TANZE. 

The English word "Dance" in Indian patois. 

Has no meaning other than the idea covered by "dance" 
in English. Use same as English "dance." 

Examples: "Chaco copo nika tanze," "Come to my 
dance." "Kah okeoke tanze?" "Where is the dance?" "Nika 
nanage itswoot mamook tanze," "I saw a black bear dancing." 
(The black bear has a habit of standing on his hind feet and 
stepping sidewise slowly with a swaying motion when all alone 
in the woods. This is probably done to enable him to see over 
the bushes, etc. The movement is considerably like a slow 
Indian dance — hence the above use of "tanze." (I saw a black 
bear making-dance.") 

MILK. 
TATOOSH. 

A as in hat; oo as in coo; accent -tat and pronounce Tat- 

too-sch. 

This word more properly means "The breasts-of-a-woman" 
or "Round-like-a-woman's-breast." In actual use in Chinook 
the above is the primary meaning, but like many other Chi- 
nook words it has been _ "stretched" to cover associate-ideas 
connected with the original or primary meaning until now 
"Tatoosh" means "breasts" (in above sense) "milk," "udder," 
"bosom," "teat," etc.; in short, the whole idea of the female 
food-supply-for-the-offspring. It is used in speaking of cattle 
or other animals more than any way in the above meanings, 
though it is also used in connection with mother and babe. 

Examples: "Halo yahka moosmoos mamook muckamuck 
copo beebee — iskum sick tatoosh," "No she (that) cow make 
food for baby — get sick udder." (Idea: "That cow does not 
nurse her calf because her udder is sore.") 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 99 

BELL. 

TINTIN. 

Pronounce Tin-tin. 

This word means "bell' and is an example of imitation of 
sound being made into a word to mean the sound of the 
thing that makes it. It is sometimes used to mean "hour" in 
the sense of the clock-bell-rings-on-the-hour, therefore, "let 
tintin," is "one hour" (from any given starting point as noon 
("sitkum-sun), etc.). The word is now almost obsolete. 

WHITE. 

T'KOPE. 

O as in oat; accent -kope- and pronounce T-kope with the 
"T" sound sharp, short and distinct. To make it try the 
sounds of "T" and "K" each separate but made as quickly 
as you can, "T" first, "K" following, then add "ope" as in 
hope. 

The word means "white" and is used to designate "pure 
white" or any color near-white as "gray," "light yellow/' 
etc. Mostly it is used to mean "white" as against any other 
color, however, and it is a qualifying word for fixing the color 
of an object in its usual use. 

Examples: "T'kope chickamun," "White metal (silver)." 
"Okeoke t'kope house," "That is a white house." "T'kope 
pent delate klosh," "White paint is very good." 

TOMORROW. 

TOMOLLAH. 

Corruption of the English "tomorrow" used in Chinook 
to mean same as "tomorrow" in English. Use same way. 

BRIGHT — SHINING. 

TWAGH. 

A as in father; pronounce Twah-guh. (This is as near as 

English will give the sound of "gh.") 

"Twagh" means "star" or "light," "bright light," "shin- 
ing," "glittering," etc. It is little used, however, and would 
be understood by few Chinook speakers of today. It should 
be preserved in the above meanings as it is good Chinook. 

Examples: "Yowah delate twagh," "There is a fine, bright 
star." "Boston man mamook twagh copo nose copo polalie- 
illahee copo salt-chuck," "(The) white man (has) built (a) light 
on (the) point of (the) sandspit (that runs) into (the) salt- 
water." 



100 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

SWEET. 
T'SEE. 

Means "sweet." Little used now. "Kahkwa sukwah," 
(like sugar) is more apt to be used now. "T'see" should be 
preserved in its present meaning, however, as it is good Chi- 
nook. 

TO MISS — MISTAKE. 
T'SEEPEE. 

T's as a hissing sound; ee as in sleep; accent -t'see- and pro- 
nounce Tse-e-pee. 

"T'seepee" means "mistake" primarily but it is used as a 
qualifying word to mean "error," "blunder," "deceit," etc. 
Examples: "T'seepee illahee," "False point" (meaning a 
point of land that looks like, another one that serves as a 
guide — a false landmark). "John mamook poo copo mowitch 
pe t'seepee pe halo iskum," "John shot at a deer but missed 
and no get (it)." 

The word is very little used now and is scarcely ever 
heard in the Puget Sound country. There is no good reason 
why it should not be preserved as it is good Chinook. 



CRACK — SPLIT. 
T'SCHUG. 

Pronounce as written with T's as a hissing sound. 

Means "crack" or "split" but is so little used as to be 
practically obsolete. Should be preserved. 

Examples: "Mamook t'schug okeoke stick," "Split the 
wood." "Delate solleks yahka tahmahnawis mamook illahee 
delate t'schug pe lamount'n delate piah," "Very angry him (the) 
Tahmahnawis, (they) make (the) earth very much crack open 
and (the) mountains very much burn." 



ONE HUNDRED. 

TUKAMONOCK. 

U as in up; o as in more; o as in knock; accent -mo- and pro- 
nounce Tuck-a-moh-nock. 

Means "One hundred" (numeral). (For uses see "Count- 
ing in Chinook.") 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 101 

NEEDLE. 
TUPSHIN. 

U as in up; i as in skin; accent -tup- and pronounce Tupp- 

shin. 

Means a "needle." Use same as English "needle." Little 
used except in trading. 

Examples: "Mamook coat klosh copo tupshin," "Make 
good the coat with a needle" (mend the coat). "Kah nika 
tupshin?" "Where (is) my needle?" 

HAIR. 
TIPSO. 

I as in hit; o as in oat; accent -tip- and pronounce Tip-son. 

Means primarily "hair" but is flexible enough so it covers 
"grass" or any like plant which is, by using "illahee" as a 
prefix word, converted into "earth-hair" (illahee tipso). Any 
kind of fur or hair or anything hair-like is "tipso" and nearly 
always some prefix word is used to fix the kind or color of 
the hair. Sometimes it is "hair-of-the" when some following 
word is used to name some particular thing, thus: "Tipso 
copo mowitch" (hair-of-the deer) ; usually a prefix word is 
used, however, instead of a followup word with it. 

Examples: "Nika klale tipso," "I (have) black hair." 
"Konaway illahee tipso klosh — mamook cut?" "The grass is 
good (ripe, full grown) (shall I) make it cut?" "Konce chaco 
cole yahka ena tipso delate klosh," "When the cold comes he 
(the) beaver fur (it) will be very good." 

SPOTTED — MIXED COLORS. 
T'ZUM. 

T sounds t-s-s-s; u as in up; accent -zum- and pronounce 

T-s-s-s-zum. 

Means "spotted" primarily, but the idea of "spotted" is 
enlarged to cover any mixed or broken colors, anything print- 
ed, marked, figured, written or painted. 

Examples: "Okeoke t'zum papah," "That letter (or news- 
paper, printed paper, etc.)" "T'zum sail okeoke," "That is 
broken-color cloth" (plaid, calico, etc.. where 'colors are not 
used solid). "Yahka man comtox chuck stick copo t'zum 
mamook copo," "He (the) man knows his logs in the water 
by the mark he puts on." "Delate hiyu tenas t'zum pish," 
"Very great many little-spotted-fish (trout)." "Okeoke man 
wawa copo t'zum stick," "That man talks with a stick-that- 
makes-marks (pencil, pen or brush)." 



102 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

GRUNTED "UGH!" 

UGH. 

Many wordless expressions of thought are used by In- 
dians to express definite ideas that are as well understood as 
words. The grunted "Uh" or "Ugh" is used in Chinook by 
many Indians and has various meanings the same as anything 
else spoken. To use this "grunt" intelligently one must know 
the way to give its meaning by inflection, thus: 

"UGH" — Just short, and with level tone means that "I 
agree with you," "yes," "all right," etc. 

"UGH" — Prolonged, with upward inflection, means won- 
der, "Is that so?" "Can it be!" etc. 

"UGH" — Prolonged, with downward inflection, but spoken 
softly, means "pity," "sympathy," "helplessness," etc. 

"UGH" — Explosive, short, sharp and rather loud means 
protest, "No, no!" "Do not!" etc. 

The Chinook student should master all the various tonal 
meanings of "Ugh" and also the full meanings and tones of 
"A-a-a-h!" " A-a-a-a-nah !" and "A-a-a-e!" for the Indians use 
these "grunts" a great deal and convey a lot of ideas by their 
uses. (See above three words under "A.") 



NONE — NOT. 
WAKE. 

A as in skate; e almost silent; pronounce same as English. 

"Wake" in Chinook is, in a way, interchangeable with 
"Halo" and means "not," "none" or "no." It is, however, not 
so positive in negative power as "No" in a usual sense, though 
it can be if necessary. In ordinary conversation it is used 
more to mean "not" than in any other sense, and "Halo" is 
used to mean positive "NO." 

Examples: "Wake mika tika okeoke," "Not I wish-for 
that." "Wake hiyu," "Not many." "Wake siah," "Not far." 
"Wake nika tumtum," "I think not." "Wake klosh okeoke/' 
"That is not good." "Wake mesika mamook," "We will not 
do that." "Klosh kahkwa — wake mahsh," "It is good — let it 
alone." (Literally: Good like-that, not (you) throw-away 
(it).) (Idea: "It is good, do not disturb it.") "Wake nika 
nanage," "I did not see (it)." "Wake lalie nesika chaco," 
"We will come before long." (Literally: "Not-long we 
come.") 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 103 

TALK — SPEECH — TO TALK — VOCAL UTTERANCE 
OF ANY KIND BY ANY ONE AT ANY TIME. 

WAWA. 

A as in father (both syllables); accent first syllable; pronounce 
Wah-wah with slight h sound at end of each syllable. 
"Wawa" is the Chinook speech-symbol and means "talk" 
of any kind, any place, any time, by any one. It is always 
qualified by some word that fixes the time, place, subject or 
some other particular meaning concerning the "talk" spok- 
en of. 

Examples: "Klosh wawa," "Good talk" (well spoken). 
"Comtox Chinook wawa?" "(Do you) understand Chinook talk?" 
"Mox wawa," "Double talk" (a lie). "Mika wawa copo Chim," 
"You tell Jim," "Halo wawa mika," "I will not tell." (Liter- 
ally: "No talk, me." "Heehee wawa mika wawa," "Foolish 
talk you talk." "Nika mamook t'zum pepah wawa," "You 
make paper-talk" (you write it down on paper). "Halo nika 
comtox mika wawa," "No I understand your talk." 

POTATO. 
WAPATO. 

A as in swap; a as in fate; o as in oat; accent -wap- and pro- 
nounce Wap-pay-toh. 

Originally this word was the name of the root of the 
plant now called "Wapato" by the whites (Sagititaria Sagitti- 
folia) which was used as a food by the Indians. Since the 
white settlement of the country the meaning has changed to 
cover the potato or any other potato-like bulb (such as 
dahlia, etc.). Common usage has made "potato" the article 
meant when "wapato is used (though the word sounds more 
"waugh-pay-toh" with accent on first syllable) alone nowadays, 
and when the real "wapato" is meant it is called "Siawash- 
wapato" to distinguish it from common potato. This use is 
making the original meaning obsolete and it will be lost be- 
fore long and probably the word itself will change to "waugh- 
pay-toh" unless the original meaning is preserved as it should 
be. 

WARM. 
WAUM. 

Corruption of English "warm" pronounced in Indian patois. 

Means same as English "warm." Degree of "warm" is 
fixed by using other words as prefix or to follow "waum." 

Examples: "Waum," "Warm." "Hyas waum," "Quite 



104 THE CHINOOK BOOK 

warm." "Delate waum," "Very warm." "Hiyu delate waum," 
"Hot." Halo waum," "No-warm." "Tenas waum," "A little 
warm." "Klosh sun, hiyu waum," "A nice warm day." 
"Hi-i-i-i-yu dela-a-a-a-te waum, kahkwa piah," "A very-great- 
deal-hot-like-fire!" 

AGAIN — OVER AGAIN. 
WEGHT. 

E as in get; pronounce as written. 

Means "again," "repeated," etc. Very little used any 
more. Nearly obsolete. 

WIND. 

WIND. 

Same as English; means same; used same. Also used to 
mean same as English "breath," or "breathe" when used thus: 
"Halo wind," "I am out of wind" (no breath left); "I am 
short-winded" (hard to breathe), etc. 

A TALE. 
YIEM. 

Pronounce almost Iem. 

Means a story or tale. So very little used nowadays as 
to be practically obsolete, though it should be preserved as it 
is good Chinook. 

HE — HIM — HER — IT — HIS. (THE THIRD PERSON 
SINGULAR.) 

YAHKA. 

A as in father in both syllables; accent -yah- and pronounce 
Yah-kah. (The "a" in this word has near the broad "a" 
of YAW but not quite — about halfway between YAH and 
YAW is about as near as it can be placed in English, 
though YAH will be understood easily.) 
"Yahka" is usually used in Chinook to mean "he" or 
"him" or "his" in the same sense as English, but it is fre- 
quently used also in the Indian sense of sentence construc- 
tion which places the subject and then says "it" is so and 
so, thus: "Okeoke canim, yahka iskum sail." (Literally: 
"That canoe, it has a sail. In this case "yahka" means "it" 
(that canoe). "Okeoke man yahka pelton," "That man, he 
(is) crazy," is another instance of the same construction, and 
this method is commonly used in all Indian languages. More 
often, however, "yahka" means "he," "him," "her," or "his" 
("belongs-to-him") and is used in conversation very frequent- 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 105 

ly to cover all of these meanings in the usual elastic way 
that all Chinook words are used more or less. 

Examples: "Yahka man," "Him" (that-man in particular). 
"Mesika chaco copo yahka canim," "We came in him (that) 
canoe." Delate klosh yahka muckamuck," "Very good him 
(that) food." "Yahka wawa copo nika," "He told me" or 
"spoke-to-me." "Yahka klootchman copo nika," "She (that 
woman) is my wife." "Klosh spose yahka man wawa Chim," 
"Good, if he (that man) tells (or will tell) Jim." "Yahka 
delate klosh man; yahka skookum mamook," "He (is a) very 
good man; he (is a) strong worker." 

HERE OR THERE. 
YOWAH. 
Ow together as in how; a as in father;accent -yow- and pro- 
nounce Yow-wah. 

"Yowah" means either "here," "this place," or "there," 
"that place." The meaning is brought out by nod or gesture 
indicating "over yonder" or "here alongside" as the case may 
demand. Without the gesture it is used to follow any com- 
bination of words indicating place as "over-the-mountains 
there is," etc. Or "The-paddle, here it is," etc. More often 
it is used with the gesture to indicate place, however. 

Examples: "Mika chaco yowah," (with gesture indicating 
"here by me") "You come here." "Mika klatawa yowah" 
(with gesture indicating some particular place over yonder), 
"You go there." "Enati yahka lamount'n, mesika klatawa 
yowah," "Over him (the mountain) we will go there." "Mika 
mitlite yowah, nah?" "You live there, yes?" (Idea: "Do you 
live there?) "Halo, nika mitlite yowah," "No, I live here" 
(gesture to indicate place in both of the last sentences). 
.... Note: "Yukwah" is used to indicate "here" also but it is 
not common. The usual word is "yowah" for either "here" 
or "there" and the gesture is used with it to indicate which 
place is meant. 

STOMACH. 

YAKWAHTIN. 

A as in father, both syllables; i as in tin; accent -kwah- and 

pronounce Yah-kwah-tin. 

Means "stomach," "belly" or "intestines," depending on 
use. 

Examples: "Tenas man yahka iskum sick copo yakwah- 
tin," "This little boy he get sick inside (bellyache)." "Mamook 
mahsh yakwahtin copo mowitch pe lolo itlwillie," "Take the 
entrails out of the deer and bring the meat." (Not very much 
used any more.) 



COUNTING IN CHINOOK 



The numbers from one to ten are: 

One-half— Sitkum. 

One— let. 

Two — Mox. 

Three — Klone. 

Four — Lokut. 

Five — Kwinum. 

Six — Tokum. 

Seven — Sinamox. 

Eight — Stotekin. 

Nine — Kwaist. 

Ten — Tatlum. 

From ten to twenty the numbers are made by using ten 
as start and adding the necessary number to make the total 
wanted, thus: "Tatlum-pe-ict," "Ten-and-one" (Eleven). "Tat- 
lum-pe-stotekin," "Ten-and-eight" (Eighteen). "Tatlum-pe- 
kwinum," "Ten-and-five" (Fifteen), and so on, using any need- 
ed combination. 

Above nineteen a multiple of ten is used, thus: "Mox- 
tatlum," "Two-tens" (Twenty). "Klone-tatlum," "Three-tens" 
is "thirty"; "four-tens," "forty," etc. The units of any num- 
ber above nineteen are indicated thus: "Mox-tatlum pe lokut," 
"Two-tens and four" (Twenty-four). "Kwinum-tatlum pe 
klone," "Five-tens and three" (Fifty-three), and so on up to 
"Tatlum-tatlum," "Ten-tens" (One hundred). 

One hundred is also called "Tukamonuk," but not often. 
"Tatlum-tukamonuk" is "Ten-hundreds" (One thousand). 

It is not often that numbers running very high are used 
in Chinook. In ordinary use the numbers up to twenty are 
frequently used and above that only seldom. When "one 
hundred" is reached the idea becomes "very many" in the In- 
dian mind and is apt to be expressed as "hiyu" while "Hiyu- 
delate" is apt to cover numbers beyond one hundred, meaning 
"a-very-great-many." 



LIST OF FEWEST WORDS NEEDED TO 
CARRY ON ORDINARY CONVER- 
SATION IN CHINOOK 



Thorough understanding of the following list of words, 
with their manifold meanings, will enable anyone to carry- 
on an ordinary conversation in Chinook. The words used in 
one locality only and the seldom-used words are omitted, and 
only the words in common, or general use, are included here. 

For full and complete meaning of each of these words and 
complete list of words that are little used, see Part One. 



Ahncuttie — Time past. 

Alta — Now. 

Alki — Time to come. 

A-a-a-h! — Exclamation con- 
fiming a statement. 

A-a-a-nah ! — Almost same as 
a-a-a-h. 

A-a-a-a-e! — Wonder, sym- 
pathy, etc. 

Ats — Sister. 

Boston — White man. 

Bebe — Baby. 

Canim — Boat. 

Capo — Coat. 

Copo — With, at, in, out, etc. 

Chaco — Come. 

Chickamun — Metal of any 
kind. 

Chick-chick — Wheel. 

Chuck— Water. 

Cultas— Bad. 

Calipeen — Gun. 

Calitan — Shot, cartridge, ar- 
row. 

Chee — New. 

Comtox — Understand. 

Chetwoot — Brown bear. 

Cole— Cold. 

Chinoos — Tobacco. 

Cooley — Run, race. 

Cosho — Pig. 

Delate — Very. 

Diaub — Devil. 



Dry— Dry. 

Doctin — Physician. 

Dollah — Dollar (Money). 

Ena — Beaver. 

Esick— Paddle. 

Elip — Before, in front. 

Enati — Across. 

Enapooh — Muskrat. 

Gleece — Grease, fat. 

Huloime — Different. 

Hyak — Quick, fast, hurry. 

Halo— No. 

Hahlakl— Open. 

Haul— Pull, drag. 

Heehee — Joy. 

Hoolhool — Mouse. 

House — House. 

Humm — Stink. 

Hyas — Big. 

Hiyu — Plenty. 

let— One. 

Icta— What. 

Ictas — Things. 

Itlwillie — Flesh, meat. 

Itswoot — Black bear. 

Illahee — Land. 

Iskum — Get. 

Kah— Where. 

Kekwillie — Down. 

Kahpo — Older brother. 

Kullakulla— Bird. 

Kowmux — Dog. 

Kapswallie — Steal. 



108 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 



Kaupee — Coffee. 
Keelapi — Up-side-down. 
Kuitan — Horse. 
Klale— Black, dark blue. 
Klap — Find. 
Kliskwis — Mat made of 

rushes| 
Klone — Three. 
Kow — Tie, fasten. 
Kull— Hard, solid. 
Kwahtah — Quarter. 
Kwaist — Nine. 
Kwan — Glad. 
Kwass — Afraid. 
Kwinum — Five. 
Kwolan — Hear. 
Klaska — They, them. 
Klaxtah — Who, which. 
Kahtah — How, why. 
Kahkwa — Like. 
Kimtah — Behind. 
Klah — Clear of, clear. 
Klahowya — How are you? 
Klatawa — Go. 
Klone— Three. 
Klonas — Perhaps, if. 
Kly— Cry. 
Klosh— Good. 
Klootchman — Woman. 
Kokshut — All broken up. 
Konaway — All. 
Kunamox — Both. 
Konce — When, how much, 

how many? 
Kwonesum — Always. 
Lamount'n — Mountain. 
Lalie — Short time. 
Lamessin — Medicine, drugs. 
Lapeep — Pipe. 
Lokut — Four. 
L'ahb— Killikinick. 
Lahash — Axe. 
Lagoom — Pitch. 
Lacasset — Trunk, box. 
Lope — Rope, string. 
Liplip — To boil. 
Lesack — Bag, pocket. 
Lepool — Grouse, chicken. 
Lamah — Hand, arm. 
Latait — Head. 



Lapote — Door. 

Laplash — Board, lumber. 

Lepee — Foot. 

Lolo — Carry. 

Mahkook — Trade, buy, sell. 

Mesahche — Vile, rotten. 

Mitlite — Live, stay. 

Muckamuck — Eat, food. 

Mika — You, your. 

Mesika — Yours, you — to- 
gether. 

Memaloose — Dead, de- 
stroyed. 

Mamook — To do, act, move. 

Mahsh — Throw away. 

Mama — Mother. 

Mox — Two. 

Moon — Moon. 

Moosmoos — Cattle or elk. 

Moosum — Sleep. 

Mowitch — Deer. 

Man — Man or male sex. 

Nah— Hello. 

Nanage — See, seen. Will see. 

Nem — Name. 

Nika — I, me, my or mine. 

Nesika — We, us, our. 

Nowitka — Yes. 

Ollalie — Berry. 

Okeoke — That or this. 

Oleman— Old. 

Oiehut — Road. 

Olo — Hungry. 

Opoots — Rear, stern, tail. 

Ow — Brother. 

Pe — And, but, than, or, etc. 

Pelton — Crazy. 

Piah — Fire. 

Polikely— Night. 

Polalie — Powder, sand. 

Potlatch — Give away. 

Pahtlum — Drunk. 

Pent— Paint. 

Papa — Father. 

Pahseesee — Blanket. 

Pepah — Paper. 

Pil— Red. 

Poo — Shoot. 

Pukkuk — Fight. 

Pusspuss — Cougar, cat. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 



109 



Sail — Cloth, woven goods. 
Sapolil — Flour, meal. 
Seeowist — Eyes, face. 
Solleks — Mad, temper. 
Spose — If. 

Siah — Far, long distance. 
Sitkum— One-half. 
Skookum — Strong. 
Stone — Stone, stone-like. 
Sahale — Up, up above. 
Salmon — Salmon. 
Salt— Salt. 
Schappo — Hat. 
Shem — Shame. 
Sukwah — Sugar. 
Sick — Sick. 
Sinamox — Seven. 
Siawash — Indian of the 

Coast. 
Skin — Skin. 
Snass — Rain. 
Stotekin— Eight. 
Sun — Sun or day. 
Stick — Tree, timber. 
Tahmahnawis — Magic. 
Tilacum — Friend. 
Till — Tired, heavy. 



Tenas— Little. 

Tika— Want. 

Tumtum — Heart. 

Tyee — Chief, head man. 

Tokum — Six. 

Tatlum— Ten. 

Talapus — Coyote. 

Tanze — Dance. 

Tatoosh — Milk, breast. 

T'kope— White. 

Tomollah — Tomorrow. 

Twagh— Bright. 

T'see— Sweet. 

Tschug — Crack, split. 

Tuckamonuck — One hundred. 

Tupshin — Needle. 

Tipso — Hair. 

T'zum — Mixed colors. 

Ugh — Grunted exclamation 

of surprise, etc. 
Wake — None, not. 
Wawa— Talk. 
Wapato — Potato. 
Waum — Warm. 
Wind— Wind. 
Yahka — He, him, her. 
Yowah — Here or there. 



WORDS IN COMMON USE IN ASSO- 
CIATED GROUPS 

NOTE.— "Wake" (not) and "Halo" (no) are interchangeable 
in Chinook and are given below to mean "not" or "no" 
as they are commonly used in ordinary conversation; note 
that sometimes one is used and sometimes the other with- 
out apparent reason. This is because they are usually 
used in conversation just as they are here, though either 
"Wake" or "Halo" could be used in any case for either 
"not" or "no" and the listener would understand the 
meaning. 



How ) 

Why J 



Kahta. 



When — Konce. 

Where — Kah. 

Who— Klaxtah. 

What— Icta. 

Big- — Hyas. 

Not big — Wake hyas. 

Little— Tenas. 

Not little— Wake tenas. 

Very — Delate. 

Not very — Wake delate. 

Not much, not many — Wake 

hiyu. 
Across — Enati. 
Upside down — Keelapie. 
Before — Elip. 
Behind — Kimtah. 



Sahale. 



Kekwillie. 



Up 
Over 

Down \ 
Under j 

Father — Papa. 
Mother — Mama. 
Brother — Ow. 
Sister — Ats. 
Man — Man. 
Woman — Klootchman. 
Boy — Tenas man. 



Girl — Tenas klootchman. 

Friend — Tilacum. 

No friend — Halo tilacum. 



I 

Me 
My 
Mine 

Our 

Ours 

Us 



You 
Your own 



Nika. 



Nesika. 



Yours, all 
You together 

Their 1 

They \ Klaska, 

Them I 



| Mika. 

!■ Mesika. 



He 
She 
It 



Yahka. 



Hot — Waum. 

Not hot — Halo waum. 

Cold— Cole. 

Not cold — Halo cole. 

Rain — Snass. 

No rain — Halo snass. 

Snow — Cole-snass. 

No snow — Halo cole-snass. 

Dry— Dly. 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 



111 



Not dry — Wake dly. 

Water— Chuck. 

No water — Halo chuck. 

Give— Potlatch. 

Not give — Wake potlatch. 

Want} ™- 

Not take, not want — Halo 



If — Spose. 

Not if — Wake spose. 

Like — Kahkwa. 

Not like — Wake kahkwa. 

Different — Huloime. 

Now — Alta. 

Time-to-come — Alki. 
Time-past — Ahucuttie. 
tika.Always — Kwonesum. 



Get — Iskum. 

Not get — Wake iskum. 

Throw away — Mahsh. 

Not throw away — Halo mahsh 

Carry — Lolo. 

Not carry — Wake lolo. 

Speak — Wawa. 

Not speak — Halo wawa. 

How are you — Klahowya. 

Miserable — Klahowyum. 

Strong — Skookum. 

Not strong — Wake skookum. 

Glad — Kwan. 

Not glad — Wake kwan. 

Good — Klosh. 

Not good — Wake klosh. 

Afraid — Kwass. 

Not afraid — Wake kwass. 

Bad— Cultas. 

Not bad — Wake cultas. 

Indifferent — Klonas halo. 

Laugh — Heehee. 

Not laugh — Wake heehee. 

Drunk — Pahtlum. 

Not drunk — Wake pahtlum. 

Sick— Sick. 

Not sick — Wake sick. 

Crazy — Pelton. 

Not crazy — Wake pelton. 

Mad— Solleks. 

Not mad — Wake solleks. 

Yes — Nowitka. 
No— Halo. 
Not— Wake. 
Perhaps — Klonas. 

All — Konaway. 

Not all — Wake konaway. 



Day — Day. 
Night— Polikely. 

Go — Klatawa. 

Not go — Wake klatawa. 

Come — Chaco. 

Not come — Wake chaco. 

Stay— Mitlite. 

Not stay — Wake mitlite. 

In 

Out 

Through 

Against 

To } Copo. 

And 

With 

Without 

On 

S p e a k — W awa. 

Not speak — Halo wawa. 

See — Nanage. 

Not see — Wake nanage. 

Think or feel — Tumtum. 

(Note. — Tumtum also means 

mind or heart.) 
Not feel — Wake tumtum. 
Hear — Kwolan. 
Not hear — Wake kwolan. 
Taste — Muckamuck. 
Not taste — Halo muckamuck. 
Smell — Humm. 
Not smell — Halo humm. 
Hungry — Olo. 
Not hungry — Wake olo. 
Thirsty— Olochuck. 
Not thirsty — Wake olochuck. 

Foot — Lepee. 
Hand — Lemah. 
Hair — Tipso. 



112 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 



Eyes — Seeoist. 
Name — Nem. 

Live — Mitlite. 

Not live — Wake mitlite. 

Die — Memaloose. 

Not die— Halo memaloose. 

Do — Mamook. 

Do not — Halo mamook. 

Buy 1 

Sell [ Mahkook. 
Trade J 

Not buy, sell, trade — Halo 
mahkook. 

Blue— Klale. 
Black— Delate klale. 
White— T'kope. 
Red— Pil. 

Pig — Kosho. 
Horse — Kuitan. 
Cow — Moosmoos. 
Dog — Kowmux. 
Cat — Pusspuss. 
Bird— Kullakulla. 

Wagon — Chick-chick. 
Road — Oiehut. 

Grass — Illahee tipso. 
Boat — Canim. 

Far— Siah. 
Near — Yowah. 

Water— Chuck. 
Fire— Piah. 



Hungry — Olo. 

Thirsty — Olochuck. 

Coffee — Kaupee. 

Sugar — Sukwah. 

Milk— Tatoosh. 

Butter — Tatoosh gleece (or 

lackles). 
Berries — Ollalie. 

Mutton — Lemoto. 
Beef — Moosmoos. 
Venison — Mowitch. 
Bear — Itswoot. 

Bread — Piah-sapolil. 

Flour — Sapolil. 

Rice — Lice. 

Potato — Wapato. 

Bean s — Shotollalie. 

Eat — Muckamuck. 

Food — Muckamuck. 

Salt— Salt. 

Pepper — Waum Polalie. 

Dishes — Muckamuck ictas. 

Pipe — Lapeep. 
Tobacco — Chinoos. 
Match — Piah stick. 

Cloth— Sail. 
Needle — Tipshin. 
Thread — Tenas lope. 

Paper — Papah. 
Ink — Klale chuck. 
Pen — T'zum stick. 
Writing — Wawa papah. 
Printing — T'zum papah. 



NUMBERS. 



One-half— Sitkum. 
One— let. 
Two — Mox. 
Three — Klone. 
Four — Lokut. 
Five — Kwinum. 



Six — Tokum. 

S e ve n — Sinamox. 

Eight — Stotekin. 

Nine — Kwaist. 

Ten— Tatlum. 

One hundred — Tuckamonuk. 



WORDS OF LIKE SOUND BUT DIFFER 
ENT MEANING 



let— One. 
Icta— What. 
Ictas — Things. 

Inapoo — Louse, flea. 
Enapooh — Muskrat. 

Solleks— Mad. 
Sokoleks — Pantaloons, leg- 
gings. 

Kahkwa — Like. 
Kahtah — How, why. 
Kimtah — Behind. 

Klahowya? — How are you? 
Klahowyum — Miserable. 

Klaska— They. 
Klaxtah— Who. 

Hiyu — Many. 
Hyak — Quick. 



Nika— I. 
Mika — You. 
Nesika — Us, we. 
Mesika — Your, yours. 

Hyas — Big. 
Tenas— Little. 
Klonas — Perhaps. 

Alta — Now. 

Alki — By and bye. 

Pelton — Crazy. 
Pahtlum — Drunk. 

Elip — Before. 
Enati — Across. 

Mahsh — Throw away. 
Mamook — Do. 
Mahkook — Trade. 

Tilacums — Friends. 
Till— Heavy. 
Tika— Want. 



EXAMPLES OF ORDINARY CONVERSA- 
TION IN CHINOOK WITH ENGLISH 
TRANSLATION 

NOTE: — The "idea" given here is the sense or idea of the sen- 
tence conveyed by the spoken words. Notice how Chinook 
condenses ideas into a few words and conveys intelligence 
by inference. This is the graphic value of Chinook which 
thus becomes largely a word symbolism or kind of a "verbal 
shorthand" instead of an ordinary spoken language. 

"Klahowya, six !" 

"How are you, friend!" 

"Klosh nika." 
"Good (am) I." 
(Idea: I am well.) 

"Kah mika klatawa?" 

"Where you (are) go(ing)?" 

"Nika klatawa copo nika house. Chaco?" 

"I go to my home. (Will you) come?" 

"Nowitka; nika tika nanage copo mika canim." 

"Yes; I want (to) look over your canoe." 

(Idea: Yes, I wish to take a look at your canoe.) 

"Klosh kahkwah; spose mahkook — nan?" 

"Good like that; perhaps buy (it) — no?" 

(Idea: That is good; maybe you would like to buy it?) 

"Halo mahkook; nika mamook chee." 

"No buy (it) I make new (canoe)." 
(Idea: No, I do not wish to buy; I am making a new one 
myself.) 

"Yowah nika canim; klosh spose klosh nanage. Okoke 

"There my canoe (is); good if good look (you). That 
delate skookum canim." 
very strong canoe." 

(Idea: There is my canoe. It would be well for you to 
look it over carefully. It is a very strong, well built canoe.) 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 115 

"Klosh kahkwah." 

"Good like that." 

(Idea: What you say is good, I will take your advice.) 

"Chaco copo house pe nanage nika klootchman." 

"Come to house and see my wife." 

"Okeoke nika klootchman — okeoke nika tilacum Chon 

"This my wife — this my friend John 
Bance." 
Vance." 

(The wife) — "Klosh; chaco pe mitlite — wake lalie mesika 
"Good; come (in) and stop — not long we 
muckamuck." 
eat." 
(Invitation to dinner.) 

"Halo mitlite nika — Nika klatawa hyak pe klap nika 

"No stop me — I go quick and find my 

ow. Mesika klatawa enati yahka chuck copo Seattle pe 
brother. We go across him (the) water to Seattle and 
klap nika klootchman mitlite copo nika tenas ow pe 

find my wife (who) stays with my small brother and 

klatawa copo nika klootchman ats elip chaco polikely." 
go to my wife's sister before come night." 

(Idea: No, I cannot stop, I must go quickly and find my 
brother, then we must go across the water to Seattle and meet 
my wife who is staying with my younger brother and then we 
must go on to my sister-in-law's home before night.) 

"A-a-a-e! Wake lalie mesika. Chaco pe 

"Very well! Not long you-all-together. Come and 
tenas mitlite copo nesika. Lolo mika klootchman 

little (while) stay with us. Bring your wife 

pe kona-way mesika klatawa copo kuitan siah copo lamount'n 
and all (of) us go with horses far into mountains 

illahee pe iskum olallie — nah?" 

land and get berries — do you agree?" 

(Idea: Very well. Before long all of you come and stay 
with us for a while. Bring your wife (and family) and' we will 
all go on a berrypicking trip with the horses into the moun- 
tains, would you like to do this?) 

"A-a-a-e! Delate cultas cooley — nah?" 

"I agree! Very pleasure-trip — is that it" 

(Idea: That would be fine! A regular oleasure trip, that's 
the idea, isn't it?" 



116 THE CHINOOK BOOK 



TRADE CONVERSATION. 



'Nika tika t'zum sail." 

'I want printed (or broken-colored cloth, calico qr fig- 



ured goods). 

"Nowitka. Klosh okeoke?" 

"Yes. Good this (kind)?" 

"Halo; klale pe T'kope." 

"No; black and white." 

"Klosh kahkwa okeoke?" 

"Good like this?" 

"Nowitka — konce chickamun?" 

"Yes — how (much) money?" (What does it cost?) 

NOTE: — Ordinarily "Konce" means "When" but it is always 
used thus: "Konce chickamun?" to mean "How much 
money?" It is never used in any other way to mean "how" 
but is always used as above when "How much money?" is 
meant.) 

"let yard, sitkum dime." 
"One yard, half dime." 

"Klosh; tatlum yard nika tika." 

"Good; ten yards I want." 

"Spose nika mahkook konaway nika lacasset lokut tatlum 

"If you (will) buy all my baskets four tens of 

yard nika mahkook." 
yard(s) I buy." 

(Idea: If you will buy my baskets I will buy forty yards 
of (this) cloth.) 



THE CHINOOK BOOK 117 

WORK CONVERSATION. 

"Chim, nika tika mahsh konaway stick copo nika 

"Jim, I want taken (away) all timber from my 
illahee. Konce chickamun ict sun mika tika spose mamook 
land. How much money (per) one day you want if make 

mahsh konaway stick spose mamook klosh copo piah 

taken away all timber (and) if make good for fire 
copo lasee pe lahash pe mamook haul copo kuitan copo nika 
with saw and axe and make haul by horse to my 
house?" 
house?" 

(Idea: Jim, I want this land of mine cleared. How much 
do you want per day to clear away all the timber and to cut it 
into stove wood for my fire with saw and axe and haul it to 
my house?) 

"Ict dollah pe sitkum ict sun — klosh spose kahkwa." 

"One dollar and one-half one day — good if like that." 
(Idea: I will do it for a dollar and a half a day and be 
satisfied to do it for that.) 



INFORMATIONAL CONVERSATION. 

"Nah six! Mika comtox kahtah oiehut mesika klatawa 

"O friend! You understand what road we go 

spose chaco copo Tom Chones house?" 

suppose come to Tom Jones' house?" 

(Idea: O friend! Do you know what road we take to 
reach Tom Jones' house?) 

"Nowitka, klatawa copo okeoke oiehut tenas siah pe konce 

"Yes, go by this road little far and when 

nanage oiehut klatawa copo sun mika klatawa yowah pe 

see road go(ing) toward sun you go there and 

wake alki mika nanage house copo stick yowah." 

not (long) by and by you see house in woods over there." 
(Idea: Yes, go along this road until you see a road going 
East then you go along that road not far (a little way) and 
you will see the house over there (to the right) in the tim- 
ber.) 

NOTE: — It is hard to write this kind of conversation as the 
gestures cannot be written and it «s th* gestures used by 
the speaker that indicate place ^ction, etc., and designate 
what road that is to be followed. The conversation, how- 
ever, will give a good idea of the way Chinook is put to- 
gether to convey ideas.— Author. 



118 THE CHINOOK BOOK 



CHANCE CONVERSATION. 

"Klahowya! Halo mika nanage t'solo kuitan? let klale, 

"How are you! No you see lost horse? One black, 
ict t'zum — konaway mamook kokshut mesika lope pe klatawa 
one spotted — all made broken their ropes and go 

hyak copo polikelie. Klosh nanage nika copo konaway stick 
quick in night. Good look I in all timber 

pe halo klap. Mika nanage?" 
and no find. You see?" 

(Idea: How are you. Did you see any stray (or lost) 
horses? I have lost two, one black, and one spotted — they 
broke their ropes and got away last night. I have looked good 
in the timber but can't find any trace of them. Did you see 
them?) 

"Halo nanage, wake siah mesika chaco." 

"No see, not far we come." 



SOCIAL CONVERSATION. 

"Konaway tilacum! Copo tatlum sun nika mamook tanze 

"All friends! In ten days I make dance 

copo nika house. Delate heehee, delate muckamuck pe delate 
at my house. Much fun, much eating and much 

tanze. Hiyu delate klosh heehee. Chaco konaway tilacum 
dance. Many much good fun. Come all friends 

pe cultas heehee mamook copo mesika; lolo klootchman 
and good - time - fun make with us; bring wives 
pe ictas copo canim copo piahchuck illahee spit pe iskum klosh 
and goods in canot to "Whiskey spit" and get good 
heehee. A-a-a-ah!" 

fun. It is as I say!" 

(Idea: Invitation to feast dance. "Listen, everybody! In 
ten days I will give a feast dance at my house. We will have 
plenty of fun, plenty to eat and a good time. Come all friends 
and have a good time with us, bring your wives and families 
and your outfits in your canoes to "whiskey spit" and have a 
good time with us. " You won't regret it. It is as I say.") 



f 



the Chinook Book 




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(W. S. Phillips) 



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